News briefs for March 8, 2002

Friday, March 8, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

Convicted killer's appeal rejected

The state Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the appeal of convicted killer Lazaro Hernandez, who gunned down the boyfriend of his estranged wife in Las Vegas.

Hernandez claimed his attorneys during his trial and appeal were ineffective. He said errors were made when he was not allowed to dismiss his attorney at trial and also when he was not permitted to act as his own counsel.

The court said District Judge Jeffrey Sobel properly denied the petition of Hernandez, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1996 shooting of Cevano Ramirez.

Las Vegas man gets 5 years

District Judge Donald Mosley Thursday sentenced Todd Surgeon, 35, of Las Vegas to up to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to securities fraud and ordered him to repay $305,000 to those who invested in a hot tub scheme.

Surgeon will be eligible to apply for parole in 24 months and will then have to start making restitution.

The state attorney general's office said Surgeon is also wanted in Douglas and Washoe counties on charges of fraud and in California and Oregon for similar counts, all arising from the same scheme.

Deputy Attorney General Francis Arenas said Surgeon convinced investors to put money into a company called Americana Corp., which was supposed to be a leisure equipment and spa distribution company.

Surgeon told the investors he would personally buy their shares of common stock for three times the purchase price within one year of the purchase date, Arenas said, and he failed to disclose to investors that the vice president of operations for Americana Corp. had previously been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and aiding and abetting.

New cards reflect district changes

The Clark County Election Department will mail new voter registration cards next week to all registered voters because after the 2000 census all state and county districts have been redrawn.

County election officials are urging residents to review their new registration cards and note new assigned districts.

Voters will find specific election-related information on their respective registration cards such as new congressional, state Senate, Assembly and County Commission districts.

Also printed on each card are the voter's precinct number, polling place, name and address. Many individuals have been assigned new election day polling places.

For more information, call the Election Department at (702) 455-8683. Resolving registration questions now will prevent voters from being ineligible to vote in a primary or general election.

Group hindered by slow economy

Nevada Child Seekers, the state's only recognized not-for-profit missing children's organization, is asking for immediate help from the community as a result of the slumping local economy.

Donations to Nevada Child Seekers has steadily declined, Jill LeMasurier said. Without significant contributions the organization will be forced to close, she said.

For 17 years 300 trained Nevada Child Seekers volunteers have helped locate more than 3,200 missing or endangered children.

Any individual or organization wishing to make a donation is asked to contact LeMasurier at (702) 458-7009. For more information on Nevada Child Seekers, visit the website (www.nevadachildseekers.org).