News briefs for May 10, 2002

Friday, May 10, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

Schaefer out of jail on bail

An Arizona man facing murder charges in connection with an April 27 biker confrontation posted bail Thursday.

According to Clark County Detention Center records, Hells Angel member Calvin Schaefer posted 10 percent of his $250,000 bail and left the jail at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Schaefer, 32, faces eight counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, one count of open murder, two counts of second-degree murder and a single count of burglary with use of a deadly weapon. All of the charges carry a criminal gang enhancement, which doubles any potential sentence.

Police allege Schaefer, a Chandler sheet metal worker, fired at least 11 shots in a confrontation between the Hells Angels and Mongols, both outlaw biker gangs, in Laughlin.

Although authorities have conceded they cannot prove any of Schaefer's shots killed anyone, a surveillance tape reportedly shows the Hells Angel member firing three shots at Benjamin Leyva, a member of the Mongols, who gets up and limps away.

Three California men -- Jeramie Dean Bell, 27, of Hughson, Robert Emmet Tumelty, 50, of Stockton, and Anthony Salvador Barrera, 43, of Rancho Cucamonga -- were killed.

It's back to the drawing board

The state has a little egg on its face after learning the man hired to be state health officer doesn't qualify for the job.

Dr. Hugh Stallworth, a vice president of the American Cancer Society, was offered the job March 6 and was to begin work Monday.

State officials didn't realize that Stallworth did not have three years of medical residency experience as required by Nevada law to be admitted to a practice here.

Mike Willden, director of the state Department of Human Resources, said Thursday a screening panel had approved the hiring of Stallworth, who has 17 years of practice. But it didn't realize until late in the process that he did not meet the requirements of the state Board of Medical Examiners that he have three years of residency.

Willden said he had hoped the medical examiners board might waive the requirement. But Larry Lessly, executive director of the board, said the board would violate the law if it waived the requirement.

So the state goes back to the drawing board to find a replacement for Dr. Mary Guinan, who resigned earlier this year.

Rivera to serve as acting chief

Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Fidencio Rivera will serve as the acting head of the District of Nevada's Marshals Service until an interim can be selected.

An interim U.S. marshal will be chosen by Attorney General John Ashcroft to fill the position held by Jose Troncoso, who will resign effective May 18 to take a post as vice president of corporate security for Station Casinos.

Troncoso has served as U.S. marshal for Nevada since November 1997.

Eventually a new U.S. marshal will be appointed by President Bush.