‘Springfield Sam’ faces high bail

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002 | 9:37 a.m.

A Las Vegas justice of the peace Tuesday set bail at $516,000 for an 83-year-old reputed mobster accused of attempted murder.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Frank Coumou said he had asked Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman to hold Sam Manarite without bail, given his colorful background, but she agreed to bail.

Police allege "Springfield Sam" Manarite, who got his nickname from being born in Springfield, Mass., went into a downtown Las Vegas car lot last week and starting firing at two men in the reception area because he was upset over a car sale.

A Metro Police arrest report says one of the men was struck in the hand but managed to shoot back at Manarite, hitting him in the arm.

Manarite fled the car lot in his white Cadillac, but officers found him about 20 minutes later at another nearby business with a gunshot wound. The gun was found in his car, according to the report.

Manarite was treated at University Medical Center and then booked into the jail, police said.

Authorities say Manarite has a criminal record dating from 1947 and was a reputed mob soldier in the Genovese crime family.

Coumou said Zimmerman set Manarite's preliminary hearing date for Oct. 4. He faces two counts of attempted murder and burglary charges in state court and federal firearms and parole violation charges.