Witnesses fail to appear against ‘Springfield Sam’

Erica D. Johnson

Monday, Oct. 7, 2002 | 11:23 a.m.

Attorneys prosecuting an elderly reputed mobster charged with attempted murder suffered a setback Friday when their two primary witnesses failed to show up in court.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nelson Segel continued the preliminary hearing of "Springfield Sam" Manarite, 83, until Oct. 16 and reduced Manarite's bail from $500,000 to $125,000. Manarite had not posted bail this morning.

Manarite faces two counts of attempted murder and burglary in state court and federal probation violation charges.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Victoria Villegas said Dino Boggiano and John Pasqualone were expected to testify that Manarite in September fired shots at them at Astro Auto Sales after a confrontation involving the sale of a car. She said she had no idea why they did not appear.

Boggiano was shot in the wrist during the incident. Prosecutors say Manarite was shot in the shoulder when Boggiano fired back.

Defense attorney James "Bucky" Buchanan asked the judge for a dismissal. He said he planned to put Manarite on the stand, as well as several witnesses he claims will testify that Boggiano fired the first shot. Buchanan contends Manarite was acting in self-defense.

Buchanan said his client doesn't belong in jail. "(Manarite) is not in good shape," he said. "He's an elderly man who has got arthritis, a pacemaker and diabetes and he's been shot."

Villegas argued that Manarite's criminal record, which dates back to 1947, should prevent his release.

Police say the dispute that led to the incident was over Manarite's son, who works at the car lot. They claim Manarite fled the lot after the shooting and was found about 20 minutes later at a nearby business with a gunshot wound.

Manarite's wife of 57 years, Jeanne Manarite, was in the courtroom during Friday's hearing.

"When people lie, it backfires," she said. "I'm talking about the people who didn't show up. That makes me very suspicious."