Plea bargain made in standoff, sexual assault case

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 | 11:14 a.m.

The Henderson man charged with sexually assaulting his girlfriend and engaging police in a six-hour standoff pleaded guilty Wednesday to an attempted coercion charge stemming from the incident.

Daniel Keith Myrick, 38, pleaded guilty to a single felony count of attempted coercion. He will face one to five years in prison when he is sentenced before District Judge Donald Mosley on Oct. 1, defense attorney Tom Ericcson said.

Myrick was released from the Clark County Detention Center on his own recognizance late Wednesday, Ericsson said.

In exchange for Myrick's guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop multiple felony counts, including first-degree kidnapping and four sexual assault charges.

Deputy District Attorney Gregg Knapp said witness problems were the reason prosecutors negotiated the lesser charge.

"The victim recanted everything," he said. "That would make the case impossible."

He added due to the nature of the charges, the victim did not want to proceed and go through the embarrassment of a trial.

Charges stemming from Myrick's standoff with police had already been dismissed at Myrick's preliminary hearing in May.

Authorities allege Myrick sexually assaulted his former live-in girlfriend at knifepoint from March 25 to 27.