Court briefs for October 19, 2001

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 9:36 a.m.

Prosecutors handling the Franklyn Perry securities fraud case are drawing up paperwork needed to transfer his seized assets to the courts. The money would be returned to his alleged victims.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent said that the DA's office and Metro Police hope to have the necessary paperwork done within the next 60 days.

Perry was arrested July 17 for allegedly committing securities fraud. As a result, police seized about $23 million and collected information from about 1,000 alleged victims.

Perry is scheduled to go to trial on sex-related charges Oct. 29.

Killer sentenced to 10 to 25 years

A 21-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced Thursday in connection with the slayings of two men in unrelated incidents earlier this year.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure ordered Manuel Martel to serve two concurrent sentences of 10 years to 25 years in prison on a charge of second-degree murder.

Because Martel was also given prison time for possession of firearm by an ex-felon, he won't be eligible for parole until he serves a minimum of 14 years and eight months. Martel could serve a maximum sentence of 37 1/2 years.

Martel shot 22-year-old Antonio Reyes in January, and two months later, police say Martel killed Oscar Oliveira in a gang-related incident.

In both cases, Martel claimed that he shot in self-defense. At the time of the incidents, Martel was on probation, having been convicted of failing to stop for a police officer.

DOD honors local prosecutors

The Department of Defense will recognize two Clark County deputy district attorneys for their work on the Arthur Bennett case.

According to a letter sent to District Attorney Stewart Bell, the DOD's inspector general's office wants to recognize Chief Deputy District Attorneys David Schwartz and Chris Owens for their assistance in investigating Bennett and his family members in connection with fraud.

Bennett committed suicide in the Clark County Detention Center in July 1999. Prosecutors contend that on Feb. 3, 1994, Bennett staged his own death in a trailer explosion and fire. Bennett, in the Marine Corps at the time, was facing a court-martial on child-molestation charges related to incidents at two bases.

A body burned beyond recognition was found in the charred trailer in a remote area near Lake Mead. It later was mistakenly identified by Marine investigators as Bennett. Just whose body it was remains a mystery.

Three of Bennett's family members were recently convicted in U.S. District Court in connection with making fraudulent claims to receive Bennett's life insurance, veteran's benefits and Social Security benefits.

Schwartz's and Owens' work on the case helped the DOD uphold the integrity of its operations, the letter states.

Bell said he doesn't yet know when the attorneys would formally be recognized.

Burglar sentenced in friend's killing

A 20-year-old Las Vegas man charged in the death of a friend during a home invasion has been sentenced to 14 years to 40 years in prison.

District Judge Michael Douglas on Thursday sentenced Laron White to eight years to 20 years for voluntary manslaughter. White also will serve six years to 20 years for burglary in connection with a July 2000 incident. The sentences will run consecutively.

White pleaded guilty in September to voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon and burglary while in possession of a firearm. He made the plea moments after opening statements in his second-degree murder trial.

According to police, a 60-year-old South Tenaya Way resident killed Chay Stevens, 20, after finding Stevens, who was armed, burglarizing his home July 18, 2000.

White, who was also in the home, ran from the house and was arrested a short distance away.

Man must stand trial

Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle ruled Thursday that there is enough evidence to try an elderly man for murder in the strangulation death of his daughter.

Kenneth Moore, 73, on Nov. 1 will be arraigned by District Judge John McGroarty in the May 24 slaying of his 49-year-old daughter, Loretta Beechler, Chief Deputy District Attorney David Schwartz said.

Beechler's body was found May 24 about 5:50 a.m. in the 2200 block of Bledsoe Lane near Nellis and Lake Mead boulevards. The 49-year-old woman was about 75 to 100 yards from her father's home.

When police initially talked to Moore, he was in a wheelchair, and police thought he may not have been physically capable of committing the crime.