News briefs for February 11, 2002

Monday, Feb. 11, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

Woman claimed self-defense

A 35-year-old Las Vegas woman was arrested Saturday in connection with the December shooting death of her husband that she initially claimed was self defense, Metro Police said.

Roberta Stevens was arrested Saturday on a murder charge at the Indian Springs Air Force Base, where she was engaged in Army Reserve maneuvers. She was booked into the Clark County jail, police said.

James Stevens, 38, was found shot to death Dec. 27 in a home in the 7000 block of Greenoak Circle, near Alta Drive and Antelope Way.

Roberta Stevens was not arrested at the time of the shooting, but police said information discovered during the investigation show her claim of self defense is no longer valid.

No additional details of the investigation were available.

Man arrested in January slaying

A 36-year-old man wanted in connection with the slaying of his brother-in-law was arrested over the weekend, Metro Police said.

John Brian Ray was held this morning in the Clark County jail on murder, robbery and kidnapping charges in connection with the Jan. 31 slaying of 36-year-old Richard Carno.

Carno of North Las Vegas was found dead in his parked car about 7:40 a.m. Jan. 31 in the 3900 block of Las Vegas Boulevard North, near Nellis Air Force Base.

An autopsy determined Carno died from asphyxiation, police said.

Driver loses control of car

A teenager was killed when the car he was driving hit a light pole and broke the car in half Friday morning.

Luis M. Hernandez, 16, of Las Vegas was driving a 1989 Honda CRX on Lake Mead Boulevard east of Nellis Boulevard, when he apparently lost control of the car about 8 a.m. Friday, Metro Police said. The car slid across the roadway, hitting the curb and then a light pole. The impact from the collision split the small car into two sections and ejected Hernandez.

A passenger, 18-year-old Randy Bencomo of Las Vegas, was taken to University Medical Center for minor injuries, police said.

The teen was driving the Honda on a reduced-size spare tire, which requires the car to travel at slower speeds, police said.

Nevada Guard unit in airport security

A 15-member unit of the Nevada National Air Guard from Reno that was dispatched in December is guarding the perimeter at an airport in Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. Giles Vanderhoff, Nevada's adjutant general of the National Guard, said Friday the information on the location of the 152nd Security Police Squad was classified previously and could not be released to the public.

The unit had previously served in Ecuador, Egypt and Turkey performing security duties and is one of the most active squadrons in the Guard in recent years, Vanderhoff said.

$1.2 million goes to Nevada

Nevada libraries will receive $1.2 million in extra federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to help increase literacy, especially in children, and improve technology.

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., said the funds were secured on Friday.

In the past, federal funding under the Library Services and Technology Act has allowed the North Las Vegas Library to extend field trip visits to every fourth grade class in the Clark County School District.

In addition to federal funds, the state provides at least $1 for every $2 of federal support given. The grants provide more technology and resources to service people in both rural and urban areas who cannot easily reach the library.