News briefs for Dec. 3, 2003

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 | 9:37 a.m.

Hearing postponed in molestation case

A preliminary hearing for the man charged with molesting two young girls was postponed Tuesday after his defense attorney asked prosecutors to turn over taped statements from the alleged victims.

John Misseldine, 21, was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace William Jansen.

Prosecutors allege Misseldine fondled a 7-year-old girl and her 4-year-old sister at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facility off Christy Lane in Las Vegas last summer.

But defense attorney Robert Draskovich said he did not want to go forward with the hearing until prosecutors gave him audio tapes of statements the alleged victims gave police.

He said he had typed transcripts, but that several words were noted as inaudible.

Deputy District Attorney Becky Goettsch said she would provide all of the documents to the defense. The hearing was rescheduled for Dec. 22.

NLV officer in shooting identified

A North Las Vegas Police officer who shot a man who police said pulled a handgun after being stopped for questioning has been identified as Shane Arrendale.

Arrendale on Sunday wounded Bryan Hamilton, who has been charged with six counts of lewdness with a minor, one count of open and gross lewdness and one count of attempted sexual assault, said Officer Justin Roberts, a North Las Vegas Police spokesman.

Arrendale had pulled Hamilton over for questioning about 2 a.m. Sunday in the 5300 block of Clayton Street when the gun was pulled, police said.

Arrendale has over four years of law enforcement experience and is on paid administrative leave until an independent review of the case by the Force Review Board is completed, Roberts said.

Boy, 4, ejected from truck in crash

A 4-year-old boy was ejected from a 1992 GMC pickup truck about 3 p.m. Tuesday after the parents' vehicle crashed into an sport utility vehicle at the intersection of Nellis Boulevard and Gowan Road, Metro Police said.

Andrew Olsen, 29, of Las Vegas, who was driving the SUV, and Robin Chao, 27, of Las Vegas, who was driving the pickup, were taken to University Medical Center along with the toddler.

Metro Lt. Chris Carol said that all three were expected to recover from their injuries.

The 4-year-old was not secured in a car seat, police said.

Carol said children under the age of 5 or weighing under 40 pounds are required to be secured in a child car seat.

He said it was possible charges would be filed against the parents.

Body found after hotel room fire

Clark County Fire Department investigators were trying to determine why smoke detectors did not sound an alarm in a hotel room where the body of a 75-year-old man was found after a fire.

The fire was out before firefighters arrived shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Holiday Royale Hotel, 4505 Paradise Road, Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

A hotel staff member had checked the room shortly before firefighters arrived and found the man's body, Leinbach said.

The fire was confined to the mattress and appeared to be accidental, Leinbach said.

Damage was estimated at $15,000. The body of a cat was also found in the room, Leinbach said.

It was the fourth fire fatality in Clark County this year.

A 73-year-old man stabbed

to death in his home at 230 S. 11th St. last month has been identified as Paul Raymond Makula, the Clark County coroner's office said. A friend found Makula on Nov. 18.