High court allows murder-plea change

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Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002 | 10:48 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court today allowed Gary W. Scherer to withdraw his plea to second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of jewelry salesman Harold Dice Goodwine in Las Vegas in 1994.

The court affirmed the finding of District Judge Sally Loehrer that lawyers for Scherer were ineffective in failing to thoroughly investigate the case and in their steadfast recommendation for Scherer to enter an Alford plea in which he does not contest the charge.

A guilty plea is automatically entered then.

Scherer and co-defendant Claudia Canada were initially convicted of first-degree murder for the stabbing of 69-year-old Goodwine and planning to rob him in his apartment. The Supreme Court overturned the convictions on grounds of juror misconduct.

Canada and another co-defendant Ann Schuck have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.