News briefs for May 3, 2001

Thursday, May 3, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.

State to get federal funds

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has announced Nevada will receive $1.1 million for a program to fight violence against women.

The program, called Services, Training, Officers and Prosecution, or STOP, is funded under a national grant through the Violence Against Women Act.

Each police department will be able to add an off-staff victims' advocate and upgrade investigative equipment. The money will also be used for legal assistance for domestic violence victims and for educational programs about sexual assault.

Park Service names new official

Gary Warshefski, a 24-year veteran of the National Park Service and current superintendent of Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, N.Y., has been selected as assistant superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Before his current job, Warshefski was chief ranger of the USS Arizona Memorial, deputy superintendent of Manhattan Sites in New York City and a district ranger at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

His experience also includes time as a park ranger at Fire Island, N.Y. National Seashore and the National Capital Parks in the District of Columbia.

Warshefski, 49, from Southgate, Mich., is married and the father of two children. They plan to live in Boulder City.

Man indicted in singer's death

A Las Vegas man has been indicted in connection with an April accident that took the life of singer Kenny Shauntee. According to an indictment unsealed Wednesday, Franklin Santos, 24, faces one count each of reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter.

Police say Shauntee, 47, was heading home on Warm Springs Road when Santos failed to stop at a red light at Industrial Road and crashed into Shauntee's limousine at 60 mph.

Relatives said that Shauntee, who had performed at various Strip lounges since 1979, was driving the limo because his usual vehicle had been stolen.

Santos is being held on $250,000 bail at the Clark County Detention Center. He is scheduled to be arraigned by District Judge Joseph Bonaventure May 9.

Pair indicted in benefits case

A federal grand jury has handed down an indictment charging two people in a conspiracy to take vacation benefit checks that allegedly netted the pair nearly $250,000.

Goldy Mauhar and John Mauhar were named in the five-count indictment accusing them of theft and embezzlement from an employee welfare benefit plan.

The indictment alleges that Goldy Mauhar was employed by the Las Vegas office of Associated Third Party Administrators, a company that manages vacation trusts for local labor groups.

The indictment further alleges that vacation benefit checks totaling $249,634 were taken from the Associated Third Party offices, specifically checks that were undeliverable because the plan's participants had moved without leaving a forwarding address.

Hearing delayed for two suspects

Arraignment of a couple accused of murdering a 16-year-old Las Vegas runaway was rescheduled Wednesday in Riverside, Calif.

Michael Thornton, 45, and girlfriend Janeen Snyder, 21, appeared before Judge Paul Zellerbach and were granted a continuance until May 11, said Deputy District Attorney Mike Rushton.

The Rialto couple had been scheduled for arraignment today on charges stemming from the killing of Michelle Curran, whose body was found hidden in a horse trailer in Rubidoux, Calif.

Curran, who was reported missing April 5, was shot in the head.

Thornton and Snyder were arrested April 17 running away from the Rubidoux property where the body was later found.

Man dies after being hit on head

A 60-year-old man who was hit on the head during a robbery over the weekend died from his injuries Wednesday.

Salvador Barraza was found unconscious Sunday about 8:30 a.m. on a sidewalk in an apartment complex in the 1700 block of North Marion Drive between Lake Mead Boulevard and Owens Avenue, Metro Police said.

He had been out for a morning walk when someone hit him on the head and robbed him, police said.

Barraza was taken to University Medical Center, where he died Wednesday about 1 p.m.

No suspects have been identified police said.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.