News briefs for Nov. 26, 2002

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Fatal shooting is investigated

Henderson Police are investigating the homicide of a 28-year-old man found dead Saturday in the desert about 50 yards from the intersection of Old Vegas Trail and Foothills Road.

Javier Toledo suffered one gunshot wound, Officer Shane Lewis said. His body was found by a construction worker. Toledo was last seen alive on Friday night.

Anyone with information is asked to call Henderson Police at 565-8933 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Trooper waives sex-case hearing

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper charged with inappropriately touching a 12-year-old girl waived his preliminary hearing in Justice Court Monday.

Trooper Mark Hayes, who appeared before Justice of the Peace Stephen Dahl, is scheduled to go before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure Dec. 9. He was released in September on his own recognizance.

A five-year veteran of the Highway Patrol, Hayes is charged with two felony counts of lewdness with a minor child.

He is on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the criminal probe and an internal investigation.

Prosecutors say Hayes inappropriately touched his neighbor while they swam in his backyard pool.

Motorcyclist killed; passenger injured

A 33-year-old Henderson man was killed about 6:40 a.m. Monday in a motorcycle crash at Boulder Highway and Wagon Wheel Road in Henderson, police said.

James Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene, the Clark County cornoer's office said this morning.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Lopez and a woman about 200 feet off the road in a desert area. The woman was flown to University Medical Center, where she underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition Monday. Police would not release the name of the woman.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Henderson Police at 565-8933 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Legislature plans smoking structure

The Legislature is spending $15,000 to build a small glass-enclosed structure outside the legislative building to accommodate smokers.

The unit, which resembles a bus stop, will have ventilation and heating and will be 30 feet away from the legislative building.

Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said Monday this will eliminate smoking in the building. There was a smoking area for lobbyists and staff on the south side of the building, but Malkiewich said the cigarette smoke from the old smoking area got into the ventilation system.