Jury allows parole for convicted killer

Kim Smith

Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

Pahrump resident David Crawford will get a chance at parole one day.

A Clark County jury Thursday, given the choice of giving Crawford a no-parole life sentence or a life sentence with parole possible after 40 years, opted for the latter.

"I think the jury recognized there was a lot of turmoil in David's life before he did this," said Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee. "I think they saw a frail guy and that there were a lot of mitigating factors. This was out of character for him and now he's got a chance at redemption."

Crawford, 35, was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder in the March 1997 shooting death of Las Vegas resident Gloria Dugan.

Coffee had argued he had acted in the heat of the moment and should only be convicted of voluntary manslaughter. The jury gave Crawford a light at the end of the tunnel after hearing from Crawford's elderly mother and learning that he has no past criminal record. They also heard testimony from Dugan's mother.

"It may have taken five and a half years, but justice was finally served upon Mr. Crawford," said Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo.

DiGiacomo and fellow prosecutor Giancarlo Pesci told jurors that Crawford drove from Pahrump to Las Vegas and killed Dugan because she refused to break up with her fiance for him.

Coffee tried to convince jurors that Crawford was so upset with Dugan on the night of the slaying he acted impulsively. He said Crawford did not act willfully, deliberately and with premeditation -- the three elements necessary for a first-degree murder conviction.

On the night of the slaying, Crawford went to Dugan hoping she would finally resolve their tumultuous relationship one way or the other, Coffee said. In the middle of the discussion, he went over the edge.

Crawford had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in August 1999 after receiving assurances he would not have to start serving his life sentence until after he spent one last holiday season with his ailing parents.

District Judge Jeffrey Sobel, however, changed his mind about the deal two weeks later and had Crawford taken into custody.

The Nevada Supreme Court later overturned Crawford's conviction, saying Sobel erred.