Court briefs for September 13, 2001

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 9:21 a.m.

Man pleads guilty in friend's death

A 20-year-old Las Vegas man charged with murder in the death of a friend during a home invasion has agreed to a plea bargain.

Deputy District Attorney Melisa de la Garza said Laron White pleaded guilty last week to voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon and burglary while in possession of a firearm moments before opening statements in his second-degree murder trial.

As a result of the plea agreement, White will receive an eight- to 20-year prison sentence on the manslaughter charge, de la Garza said.

District Judge Michael Douglas will decide on Oct. 18 if another two- to 15-year prison sentence on the burglary charge should be served at the same time or after the longer prison sentence.

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

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

White was charged with second-degree murder in Stevens' death and could have received a life sentence had he gone to trial and been convicted.

High court upholds murder conviction

The Nevada Supreme Court upheld the second-degree murder conviction of Ross E. Barton, who purposely drove his car into another vehicle in 1994, killing the driver in Las Vegas.

The court rejected arguments from Barton that his lawyers both at trial and in his first appeal were ineffective. The first appeal was dismissed.

Barton's car and one driven by Ever Yurado collided, and Yurado fled the scene with Barton speeding in pursuit. Barton rammed Yurado's vehicle, but Yurado again drove away.

During the chase, Barton drove directly into the driver's side of Yurado's car at 44 mph. Yurado suffered a skull fracture that eventually killed him.

Barton was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.