Court briefs for August 1, 2002

Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002 | 9:06 a.m.

Man gets six years in fatal crash

A 44-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison for a cocaine-related traffic accident that killed a Pakistani tourist two years ago. Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said Gregory Fridell was speeding and driving under the influence of cocaine when he rear-ended a car carrying Rafi Razia, a 61-year-old widow and mother of four.

Booker said he was forced to offer Fridell a plea agreement because although Henderson Police officers claimed they smelled alcohol on Fridell after the accident, tests showed he had no alcohol in his system.

The prosecutor said he was afraid that because defense attorneys could claim the officers had no probable cause to test Fridell's blood, a judge might toss out the tests showing Fridell had cocaine in his system.

Fridell pleaded guilty to felony reckless driving and a misdemeanor DUI charge.

Trial ordered in shooting death

A 21-year-old Las Vegas man must stand trial on a murder charge in the shooting death of another man at Western High School.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Frank Coumou said Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron ruled Wednesday that there is enough evidence to try Rex Adams on four firearms charges and an open murder charge.

Coumou said witnesses testified during Adams' preliminary hearing that they saw him going to Western High School with Hershell R. Pacheco, 23, on July 4 and heard gunshots fired shortly thereafter.

Pacheco's body was found the following morning. He had been shot once through the heart and twice in the back of the head, Coumou said.

Adams had been seen earlier in the evening firing a .45 caliber weapon in the air and police found him in possession of the same weapon at the time of his arrest, Coumou said.