Court briefs for March 29, 2001

Thursday, March 29, 2001 | 11:30 a.m.

Las Vegas man gets 25 years

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday in a murder-for-hire scheme.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Wall said Jason Paris must serve at least 10 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Police believe Heath Iliescu had a business dispute with Bruce Ray Fisher and hired Paris to kill him in December 1997.

Paris pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and had agreed to testify against Iliescu if he had gone to trial, Wall said.

However, Ilescu pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison earlier this month. He must serve at least six years before becoming eligible for parole.

Judge upholds Council decision

A District Court judge has upheld a decision by the Las Vegas City Council to shut down a West Las Vegas convenience store after Metro Police found employees selling alcohol to minors.

But District Judge Allan Earl did ask -- as a favor, not an order -- that the city's counsel, attorney William Henry, go back to the council and ask members to consider placing the item back on the agenda for reconsideration. Henry said he would take the idea back to the council.

The city will notify vendors to cease supplying alcohol to the Day & Night Convenience Store at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Owens Avenue immediately.

Tuesday's hearing brings an end to West Las Vegas residents' fight with the store, which some say has made their neighborhood unsafe and has resulted in loitering and drug dealing in the parking lot.

The council revoked owner John Bybel's liquor license in February after an investigation by the city's Business Services Department.