Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003 | 11:21 a.m.
Man sentenced in death of daughter
A District Court judge on Wednesday sentenced a Las Vegas man to four to 10 years in prison for his role in the death of his 2-year-old daughter.
District Judge Kathy Hardcastle handed down the sentence to Geran Suarez-Montano in connection with the February death of Alejandra Suarez-Sanchez.
Suarez-Montano had negotiated his case with prosecutors. He listened to his sentence Wednesday with the assistance of a Spanish-speaking interpreter.
Authorities say the child suffered severe abuse at the hands of her mother, Alejandra Sanchez, 22. The girl's injuries included second- and third-degree burns over both legs and multiple bite marks.
Suarez-Montano had in August pleaded guilty to a single charge of child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm, a felony, for failing to get the child medical treatment.
Sanchez, who was also charged in the case, is serving a sentence of life in prison on a murder charge. She will be eligible for parole after 25-years has passed. The child stopped breathing after her mother took her to University Medical Center. Doctors summoned police after discovering more than 25 cigarette burns to her skin.
Steel to run for state Supreme Court
Family Court Judge Cynthia Dianne Steel announced Wednesday that she will run for a Nevada Supreme Court seat.
Steel, Clark County's sole judge handling juvenile cases, will seek the seat being vacated by Justice Miriam Shearing, who plans to retire when her term is completed in January 2005.
Steel said in a press release that her background in domestic and juvenile courts would add a unique perspective to the high court.
"The Supreme Court needs a perspective that I can provide," she said. "I can add my knowledge of the Family and Juvenile courts to the civil and criminal base already represented on the Supreme Court bench."
As a Family Court judge for seven years, Steel helped reorganize the current juvenile statutes, which were passed into law during the 2003 Legislative session.
Steel's three-year stint as juvenile judge ends on Dec. 31, after Family Court judges failed to re-elect her to the position for the 2004 term.
Shearing was the first woman to be elected to the Nevada Supreme Court. When her term ends in January 2005, she will have served 12 years on the court.
Pacini named Official of Year
The National League of Cities and Municipalities named local Workforce Investment Board vice chairman, Mike Pacini as Public Official of the Year.
Pacini received the award for his service as Boulder City mayor pro-temp and city councilman.
While serving on the board, Pacini has helped develop local plans, policies, guidance, independent oversight, and the establishment of performance standards for contracted employment and training services providers.
Pacini is a participant in Boulder City D.A.R.E. teen outreach programs as well as a teacher for student government.
He was elected to the Boulder City Council in 1997, being the youngest candidate elected to the position, and was re-elected to a second term in 2001.
A man shot and killed Saturday
outside a Las Vegas Elks lodge has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office as Miguel Flowers, 24, of Las Vegas. Flowers and two other men were shot as they walked through the parking lot of the lodge in the 600 block of West Owens Avenue, Metro Police said.
A driver of a sport utility vehicle
who died Saturday on Interstate 15 near Blue Diamond Road has been identified by the coroner's office as James Albert Potter, 30, of Beaver Falls, Pa. The Nevada Highway Patrol said Potter was driving his vehicle north on the interstate when it encountered traffic ahead and swerved, causing the vehicle to flip. A passenger was hospitalized.
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