Court briefs for January 18, 2002

Friday, Jan. 18, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

Deal made in Laughlin stabbing

A 64-year-old murder suspect entered a plea agreement Thursday in a December stabbing death in Laughlin.

Donald Rinard, a transient, pleaded the equivalent of no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the death of John Kilgore, 58. Rinard will receive an eight to 20-year prison sentence.

Police found Kilgore's body Dec. 11 inside a motor home parked next to the Colorado River on River Frontage Road.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael O'Callaghan said he agreed to dismiss a murder charge against Rinard because of witness problems and because there were indications Rinard may have acted in self-defense.

The incident appears to have been alcohol-related, O'Callaghan said.

Trial to begin in restaurant heist

The trial of a Las Vegas man suspected of shooting a Metro Police officer during a restaurant robbery will begin Tuesday. The officer was partially blinded as a result of the shooting.

Darnell Harris, 22, rejected a plea agreement in which he would have pleaded guilty to 13 charges and served a sentence of 37 years to life. Instead, Harris will now face a minimum sentence of 150 years if convicted on charges of robbery and attempted murder.

Harris is one of three men accused of robbing the Macayo Vegas restaurant on West Charleston Boulevard in June 2000. As they were leaving the restaurant they ran into Officer Pete Rossi.

Prosecutors allege Harris opened fire, striking Rossi in the face and causing him to lose sight in one eye.

Woman receives 5 years' probation

A Las Vegas woman was sentenced to five years' probation Thursday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon.

District Judge Jeffrey Sobel also ordered Carolyn Collette, 63, to spend two weeks in jail for every year of her probation and to serve time under house arrest.

Collette was charged with murder in the April 22 shooting death of Youseff Chouafi, 39. His body was found in Collette's home in the 2600 block of Arenas Street near Sahara Avenue and Valley View Boulevard.

Collette alleged she shot Chouafi in self-defense during a sexual assault.

10-year sentence handed woman

A 48-year-old California woman was ordered to pay $610,000 in restitution and spend 10 years in prison in connection with an arson fire at the Gold Spike hotel.

Betty Jo Hawkins pleaded the equivalent of no contest to second-degree arson in connection with the May 31 fire and was sentenced by District Judge John McGroarty Thursday.

When asked if she wanted to say anything to mitigate her sentence, Hawkins only asked that her personal belongings be returned to her by police.

The fire was contained to Hawkins' room at the Gold Spike, 400 E. Ogden Ave., but smoke flooded the third floor and some guests panicked and broke windows to escape.

Two women jumped from a fourth floor and landed on the roof of the casino. Seventeen people suffering from minor injuries and smoke inhalation were taken to hospitals.