Court briefs for February 22, 2002

Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 | 9:44 a.m.

Teacher's aide faces eight charges

Eight criminal charges have been filed against a Durango High School special education teacher's aide as the result of an alleged relationship with a 16-year-old student.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Bloxham said Carolyn Wilson, 40, now faces six counts of sexual conduct between a person in a position of authority at a school and a student, one count of possession of narcotics paraphernalia and one count of possession of marijuana.

A Clark County Park Police officer, checking on a car parked at the Desert Breeze Park at Durango Drive and Spring Mountain Road about 9 p.m. Feb. 13, found Wilson and the boy, Lt. Rick Bishop, acting Park Police chief, said.

Wilson has been removed from the classroom, but Clark County School District officials would not reveal whether she was suspended.

Woman to testify in Perry case

A Las Vegas woman who worked for a man suspected of bilking more than 1,100 people out of $40 million has agreed to testify against him as part of a plea bargain.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent said Sherri Kamimura pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and/or theft and sale of an unregistered security.

As a result of her plea agreement, Kamimura must testify against Franklyn Perry and faces anywhere from probation to up to five years in prison, Laurent said.

"Ms. Kamimura knew what was going on, but she wasn't as culpable as Mr. Perry," Laurent said.

Police allege Perry told prospective investors he was loaning money to high-roller gamblers who had hit their credit limits at area casinos. He would say that for a minimum loan of $10,000 investors would receive an incredible return.

Perry and another employee, Maria Shaw-Pimentel, are scheduled to go to trial April 29 on 517 fraud-related counts. Kamimura will be sentenced April 22.