Court briefs for April 30, 2002

Tuesday, April 30, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison Monday in connection with a fatal drunken driving accident.

Dwayne Harris will have to serve at least three years before becoming eligible for parole, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker.

Booker said Harris went through a red light on Boulder Highway on Feb. 4, 2000, and struck a car that then hit another being driven by Angel Zavala, 54, killing him.

Blood tests showed Harris had a blood alcohol level of 0.12, Booker said.

Physical therapist sentenced to prison

A 45-year-old physical therapist was sentenced to two to five years in prison Monday on sex-related charges.

Deputy District Attorney William Kephart said John Kanipe was accused last year of groping three elderly women in their homes under the guise of physical therapy.

In order to avoid a potential life sentence on a sexual assault charge, Kanipe pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and two counts of felony open and gross lewdness, Kephart said.

Former teacher's aide pleads guilty

A former Durango High School teacher's aide pleaded guilty Monday to having an affair with a 16-year-old student.

Carolyn Wilson, 40, could get anywhere from probation to as much as 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual conduct between a student and a person in authority, Deputy District Attorney Lisa Luzaich said.

She originally faced six such counts and two drug-related counts.

A Clark County School District spokeswoman said Wilson is no longer in the classroom. She declined to comment further and said Wilson's status with the school district is a personnel matter.

District Judge Donald Mosley will sentence Wilson June 26.

LV man, 18, is sentenced

An 18-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced to six to 16 years in prison Monday for the fatal shooting of a vacationing 16-year-old boy.

Rex Alvin Jimmerson pleaded guilty in March to voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon in the Sept. 19 death of Moclanail Rogers, Chief Deputy District Attorney Frank Coumou said.

Jimmerson and witnesses told police Jimmerson was pistol-whipping Rogers when the gun went off. A shot struck Rogers, who was visiting Las Vegas from Ohio, killing him.

Victim ID'd in NLV killing

North Las Vegas Police have identified two victims involved in a drive-by shooting Sunday night.

Tyrone Hammond, 21, died at the scene from his injuries. The other victim, Carl Chester, was taken to University Medical Center with a leg wound and was treated and released.

A police officer in his car writing a report near Civic Center Drive and Cheyenne Avenue about 10 p.m. Sunday heard several shots, North Las Vegas Police said.

Police found a brown Cadillac they said was involved in the shooting about a mile from the scene. The car was reported stolen and the suspects had fled, police said.