News briefs for June 26, 2002

Wednesday, June 26, 2002 | 11:09 a.m.

Stroke might have led to fatal crash

Police say a stroke or heart attack may have caused an elderly Henderson man to lose control of his car, killing himself and a passenger Tuesday evening.

Edwin Donaldson, 80, was driving the car on Las Vegas Boulevard near Robindale Road about 6:20 p.m. when the 2002 Oldsmobile Alero drifted to the right and traveled over the paved median and collided with a large metal power pole. Evarine Donaldson, 82, was also killed in the accident.

Backseat passenger John Donaldson, 47, was listed in serious condition at University Medical Center.

Dealers plead guilty in tax case

The former comptroller and three former dealers from the Virgin River hotel in Mesquite have pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to deliver false tax documents to the Internal Revenue Service.

According to a March 7, 2001, federal indictment, the comptroller, Dale Siepp, and the three dealers, Belinda Mosdell, Leveda Taylor and Leo Shan How, fabricated documents to reflect understated tip amounts.

Between July 1992 and December 1995, the defendants created and submitted fabricated tip records to the IRS indicating that their hourly tip rate was $5.50 per hour, but other dealers reported that tip rates in 1994 and 1995 were between $7.05 and $10.46 per hour.

The plea agreement calls for all four defendants to be sentenced to a six-month prison term, and the three dealers will be required to pay restitution to the IRS. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23 in U.S. District Court.

Woman killed in hit-and-run

North Las Vegas Police are seeking information on a fatal hit-and-run accident Tuesday on Las Vegas Boulevard North.

Police say a woman and man were crossing the street illegally about 9 p.m. when a car struck the woman and fled the scene. Her friend was not hit, but he could not identify the car.

The woman, 42, was taken to University Medical Center, where she died from her injuries. Her name was not released pending notification of her family.

Anyone with information pertaining to this case is urged to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department at 633-9111.

Teacher's sex trial postponed

The trial of a California teacher accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old student and having an affair with him in Las Vegas has been postponed until Sept. 23.

Tanya Hadden, 33, had been scheduled to go to trial July 22 on multiple counts of statutory sexual seduction and sexual conduct of a teacher with a student.

She is also charged with kidnapping and if convicted could receive a life sentence.

Hadden has been unable to post bail although it was lowered last week from $280,000 to $74,000. She remains in the Clark County Detention Center.

May invites citizens for coffee

Residents looking for a casual setting to meet and chat with Mayor Oscar Goodman will have the opportunity to do so from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday at Dona Maria Tamales restaurant, 910 Las Vegas Boulevard South, near Charleston Boulevard.

Las Vegas residents are invited to join Goodman for a cup of coffee and pastries.

This is the third time that Goodman has scheduled a "coffee with the mayor." Friday's meeting takes place in Ward 5, which is represented by Councilman Lawrence Weekly, who will also attend.

The mayor also has monthly open door meetings where constituents address their concerns in the council chambers at City Hall. That meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Friday.

Striking bus drivers to vote

Striking bus drivers will vote on a new proposed contract tonight, a union official said.

Amalgamated Transit Local 1637 Vice President Willie Myles said the vote by about 500 striking drivers will begin at 6 p.m. and wrap up 12 hours later.

The strike has hobbled the 51-route bus system. Drivers have previously rejected two tentative agreements negotiated between union officials and ATC, the company that runs the Citizens Area Transit system under contract.