Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001 | 9:37 a.m.
Mother receives 5 years' probation
A woman whose 2-year-old daughter died from child abuse was given five years' probation Wednesday for felony child neglect and will be deported to Mexico, officials said.
Prosecutors say Elizabeth Calvillo didn't protect her daughter from repeated abuse inflicted by Calvillo's boyfriend. The girl died in January, a few days after a beating that left her with internal injuries, authorities say.
Calvillo's boyfriend, Charles Felipa, pleaded guilty in September to second-degree murder in the January death of Viridiana Lizeth Flore-Calvillo. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12. INS officials said they were also interested in the status of his citizenship.
Calvillo, who was living in Las Vegas illegally, was taken into INS custody after the hearing.
No charges against former TV anchor
The Clark County district attorney's office will not pursue misdemeanor domestic violence charges against former Channel 13 anchor Ken Hamilton.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Bloxham said Wednesday there is insufficient evidence to pursue the case against Hamilton, whose legal name is Kenneth Tyndall.
Hamilton was arrested Nov. 4 after his girlfriend alleged he grabbed her by the ankles and dragged her down some stairs during a confrontation. She also alleged Hamilton clutched a butcher knife at one point during the argument.
Hamilton told police he grabbed the knife to defend himself against the woman, who refused to leave his home and who had allegedly been violent toward him in the past.
Jay "Chip" Siegel, Hamilton's attorney, said he is pleased with Bloxham's decision because property owners have certain rights, and Hamilton acted "reasonably" while exerting those rights.
"I'm very thankful the prosecutors did a thorough investigation," Siegel said.
Siegel said he has referred Hamilton to a contract attorney because he believes KTNV Channel 13 violated Hamilton's contract by terminating him.
Had Hamilton been a woman, Siegel said, no one would have faulted him for his actions that night.
Denise Clodjeaux, Channel 13 news director, said Bloxham's decision will not affect Hamilton's status with the station. She declined to comment further.
Increase seen after decline
The state Health Division reported Wednesday that the number of HIV infection cases rose in 2000 after a three-year decline.
There were 304 cases last year, up from 212 in 1999. The division said the increases show that "HIV infection continues to be a significant problem for the state."
The majority of the cases were acquired through sexual transmission. Men who had sex with men accounted for 54.9 percent of the cases; heterosexual transmission totaled 10.9 percent and injection of drugs totaled 9.2 percent of all the cases. The agency said cause in 19.7 percent of the cases was not specified.
The division said the greatest increase between 1999 and 2000 was in men who have sex with men, and those in the 30 to 39 age group were the most affected.
Black males have the highest rate with 74.2 out of every 100,000 being hit with HIV. The white male rate is 22.5 per 100,000; Hispanic male rate is 19.9; white female, 2.8; black female, 29.3 and the Hispanic female, 4.1.
The statistics were issued in connection with World AIDS Day Dec. 1. Many events are planned, including a candlelight vigil on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church at 1140 Almond Tree Lane in Las Vegas.
The number of cases in 1996 was 413. That dropped to 286 in 1997, and to 236 in 1998.
Ribbons ready for Kyle Canyon
In observance of National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Month, STOP DUI will begin its holiday awareness campaign by dedicating State Route 157 to Mount Charleston as Red Ribbon Road, a reminder to motorists not to drink and drive.
The 22-mile stretch of Kyle Canyo Road will be lined with red ribbons at one-mile intervals beginning 11 a.m. Friday.
DUI victims, law enforcement officials and dignitaries will participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
An appreciation awards luncheon for law enforcement officials will follow at the Mount Charleston Restaurant.
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