Court briefs for Dec. 10, 2002

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 | 8:56 a.m.

Former trooper enters plea deal

A former Nevada Highway Patrol trooper entered a plea agreement Monday that cost him his job, but will result in only two years of probation on a misdemeanor charge of open and gross lewdness.

Mark Hayes pleaded guilty to inappropriately touching a 12-year-old girl in his backyard pool, but if he completes probation and counseling the charge will be dropped to a misdemeanor charge of annoying a child.

Hayes, who is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 10 before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure, will also have to pay a $1,000 fine. He previously resigned from the Highway Patrol.

Hayes, 42, turned himself in to North Las Vegas Police after a neighbor reported that her daughter had been inappropriately touched while swimming with Hayes in July.

"My client maintains his innocence, but has admitted all along that he made a stupid decision," Hayes' attorney Pete Christiansen said. "He intends to complete the conditions of his probation and plead guilty to annoying a child."

Defendant to face psychological tests

Defense lawyers and prosecutors will spend the next 80 days running a series of psychological and IQ tests on a California man who is charged with killing a prostitute and running over a Nevada Highway Patrol officer.

District Court Judge Lee Gates on Monday set a schedule for both sides to have experts conduct tests on Vornelius Phillips.

Phillips faces 12 charges including murder and if convicted could face the death penalty unless he is determined to be mentally retarded.

Phillips' trial was postponed last week after his lawyer, Daren Richards, told Gates that a mental health expert had said Phillips could be mentally retarded.

An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for March 12 and the trial date is tentatively set for April 29.