News briefs for Nov. 29, 2002

Friday, Nov. 29, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

Two jailed in NLV slaying

Two men remained jailed in North Las Vegas this morning in lieu of $1 million bond each in connection with a Nov. 22 killing.

Luis Cueto-Reyes, 38, and Carlos Olgen, 28, were arrested Sunday, charged with murder, police said.

Police allege the two killed a man in his mid-30s who was found dead outside a home in the 3100 block of Diana Drive last week. The man, whose name was not released, apparently had been shot in the back and had suffered trauma to the head and back, police said.

New trial set in drugging, rape

A former Marine who was charged with drugging and raping a Las Vegas woman but was released when another Marine confessed to the rape was back in District Court Wednesday.

Raymond Flores appeared before District Judge Kathy Hardcastle, who set his new trial for April 28.

Deputy Public Defender Dianne Dickson filed a motion asking Hardcastle to prevent evidence of the so-called date rape drug, which Flores is accused of putting in the woman's drink, from being introduced at trial. A date for the evidentiary hearing has not been set.

Flores was sentenced in January 2001 to 10 to 25 years in prison in the rape of a Las Vegas mother of three. He was released on his own recognizance in September when Lance Cpl. Ryan Fulton confessed that he sodomized the woman and may have committed the rape.

Hardcastle overturned Flores' conviction, saying Fulton's confession could have caused the jury to acquit Flores.

Pot busts made on NLV street

With the help of an undercover detective, North Las Vegas Police arrested 30 people for buying marijuana in one block of Hassell Street.

Sgt. Chris Corrado said the detective posed as a drug dealer and people approached him to buy marijuana.

Those arrested on Nov. 22 were charged with loitering for the purpose of drug activity, a misdemeanor, Corrado said.

Trooper charged in crime resigns

The Nevada Highway Patrol officer charged with inappropriately touching a 12-year-old girl resigned Monday, Highway Patrol officials announced Wednesday.

Mark Hayes had been with the Highway Patrol for five years. He is charged with two felony counts of lewdness with a child. Prosecutors allege Hayes inappropriately touched his neighbor while they swam in his backyard pool.

Hayes had been on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal probe and an internal investigation.

A Highway Patrol statement issued Wednesday said, "Hayes' resignation was submitted voluntarily and for personal reasons."

Also on Monday, Hayes waived his preliminary hearing in Justice Court and is now scheduled to go before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure Dec. 9.

Heavy dam traffic expected

The Thanksgiving weekend is traditionally one of the busiest traffic periods at Hoover Dam, and traffic is expected to be particularly heavy today and Sunday, officials said.

Motorists should expect to spend an extra 45 minutes to an hour crossing the dam if they are traveling between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and even at other times the stretch will take longer than normal, officials said. Traffic is usally lightest at night.