Conviction of LV killer upheld

Wednesday, June 13, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Arthur Robles, who fatally shot a convenience store clerk in Las Vegas in March 1996.

The court rejected several claims by attorneys for Robles that errors were made at the district court trial. Defense lawyers said District Judge Donald Mosley improperly allowed into evidence the record of juvenile offenses by Robles and a prior adult robbery conviction.

The court said generally evidence of other crimes is excluded at trial. But in this case, the court said Robles opened the door by allowing his expert witness to testify about the non-violent nature of the robberies.

The ruling noted Mosley did not err in permitting the prosecution to cross-examine the defense expert on the prior crimes.

Robles was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the rifle slaying of Billie Jo Johnson, 44, who was shot once in the chest at the convenience store where she had worked for only one month.

At the time Robles, then 26 years old, was on parole from California, where he had been convicted of burglary, robbery and escape.

The prosecution had sought the death penalty for Robles.

Defense lawyers also claimed that police officers wrongfully conducted a warrantless search of his girlfriend's apartment, which led to his arrest. He said evidence obtained as a result of the search should have been suppressed at the trial.

The court agreed with Mosley, who found the officers "had probable cause to believe that a violent and dangerous suspect was inside the apartment and exigent circumstances supported the entry without a warrant."

When officers knocked on the door, Robles fled out a window. Police entered, searching for a second suspect in the case and later captured Robles.