Death penalty sought in slaying

Jace Radke

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

Two men charged with murder in the slaying of a driving instructor are facing the possibility of the death penalty if they are convicted.

Clark County Deputy District Attorney Christopher Lalli said the death penalty will be pursued against Anthony Prentice, 19, and James Harrison, 21.

The two are charged in the August murder of Dan Miller, a 58-year-old man who let Prentice live with him, and vouched for Prentice at a parole violation hearing.

Miller was found dead in his apartment near Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road, stabbed 128 times, with a swastika carved into his back. He was also struck in the head several times with a blunt object. Metro Police recovered a hammer at the scene.

Police said Prentice told investigators the last time he saw Miller on Aug. 30 was after introducing Harrison to him. Prentice told police that he left the apartment after hearing what he thought was sexual activity and arguing.

But, police said, Harrison told officers that Prentice attacked Miller with a knife and that he held Miller and tried to muffle his screams while Prentice continued to stab the victim.

Prentice had been placed on five years' probation in September 2001 after pleading guilty to his part in an uprising at the Summit View Youth Correctional Center in North Las Vegas.

Prentice has already been sentenced to 12 to 48 months in prison after he admitted he violated his probation prior to the slaying by failing to report to his probation officer and not paying restitution fees.