Local news briefs for January 30, 2001

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.

Police seek felon in sexual assaults

Metro Police are looking for a felon twice convicted of sexual assault in Alabama in connection with several attacks on women in Las Vegas beginning in August.

Grady O. Mullins, 37, has not registered with the state as a convicted sex offender, and has been identified as a suspect in the recent assaults, Lt. Tom Monahan said.

The attacks have all taken place in the general areas of Eastern Avenue and Silverado Ranch, and Summerlin Parkway and Buffalo Drive. In all of the incidents, the victim has been attacked by an armed man, Monahan said.

Mullins may have left the Las Vegas area, and police say he may be driving a blue 2000 Chevrolet Blazer, bearing Nevada plates 308KSK.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 229-3599 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Murder case to stay with Hardcastle

A Henderson man accused of killing a high school student almost three years ago failed Monday in his bid to get a new judge assigned to his case.

Chief District Judge Gene Porter said he doesn't believe District Judge Kathy Hardcastle is biased against Stephen Finnegan and should remain on his case.

Finnegan is accused of sodomizing and strangling Jessica Heaney, 16, in March 1998. Her body was found inside a clubhouse at the Arbor Court condos.

Prosecutors say Finnegan's fingerprints were found in the ladies' room where Heaney's body was found.

Death likely caused by bad heart

MINDEN -- The death of an accused pedophile and child killer is a relief to prosecutor Tom Perkins because it spares the victim's family the agony of a trial.

To Krystal Steadman's grandfather, the passing of Thomas Soria Sr. is a sign from God.

"We are elated by the news of Soria's death," Les Bucknell said Monday.

Soria, 40, was not breathing when jailers tried to awaken him at 5 a.m. Sunday to take his medication. He was alive at 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. bed checks.

Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini said preliminary autopsy results indicated Soria had a bad heart.