News briefs for July 17, 2002

Wednesday, July 17, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

County Commission sets judge policy

Clark County commissioners adopted a new policy Tuesday for appointing justices of the peace as vacancies occur before an incumbent's term expires.

The board agreed to assemble an eight-member committee consisting of five representatives of the legal community, two citizens and the chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court -- a non-voting member.

Commissioners will accept nominations from the State Bar, Clark County Bar, National Bar, Latino Bar and the Asian Bar. Candidates must be a licensed attorney in the township where the vacancy occurs.

Before Tuesday's vote the county had no formal policy. Previously the commissioner who oversaw the district nominated a candidate and the nomination was ratified by the board.

Probe continues in slaying of brothers

Metro Police continued to investigate the slaying of two brothers Monday, but no arrests had been made as of this morning.

Eric Concepcion, 22, and Dominick Concepcion, 26, were found about 3:10 p.m. Monday shot to death inside Eric Concepcion's condominium in the 5000 block of Spencer Street near Hacienda Avenue.

The door was not forced, and police would not say if anything was missing.

A neighbor went to the home Monday and looked into a window when he did not get an answer at the door. The neighbor saw one of the men on the floor, police said.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Test ordered in fatal accident

District Judge Valorie Vega asked for a psychological exam Tuesday to see if a Las Vegas woman accused of causing a three-car pileup that killed an elderly man in January 2001 is competent to negotiate a plea or stand trial.

Beatrice Quill faces two counts of reckless driving and one count of involuntary manslaughter for allegedly running a red light at Jones Boulevard and Alta Drive. Her car struck a pickup and forced it into a Lincoln as all three cars careened onto the sidewalk and into a fence on the southwest corner of the intersection, police said.

The driver of the Lincoln, Leo Carroll, 70, was killed as the truck came to rest halfway on top of his car in the Jan. 15, 2001, crash.

Deputy District Attorney Patrick Ferguson said Quill told police at the scene she had been hearing voices and was trying to get away from them.

Man indicted in cab carjacking

A New York man was indicted in U.S. District Court Tuesday on charges of kidnapping and carjacking a Henderson cabdriver, forcing him to drive to Cedar City, Utah, in May.

Dennis Hakim Taylor, 25, is named in the indictment that alleges he used a gun to intimidate John Callaghan into driving him north on Interstate 15 on May 17.

The taxi ran low on gas near Cedar City, and police soon afterward found Taylor walking in the area.

Taylor won't face the charges in the indictment until after he faces a murder charge originating in New York.

Taylor has been charged in connection with the beating death of Emma Stevens, 26, who was found dead in her New York apartment May 7. Cedar City police said they found checks and other papers belonging to Stevens in Taylor's possession when he was arrested.

Stabbing victim is identified

A man stabbed to death last week has been identified as 37-year-old James Sheppard of North Las Vegas.

Metro Police were called to the 2100 block of Exeter Drive, near Lake Mead and Hollywood boulevards, about 5 a.m. Thursday. Officers found Sheppard had been taken to Lake Mead Hospital.

Sheppard died at the hospital a few hours later.

No suspects have been arrested or identified in the slaying.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

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