Court briefs for July 17, 2003

Thursday, July 17, 2003 | 9:35 a.m.

Two trials near in Strip robberies

The trials of two men who had been charged in a fatal armed truck robbery and a series of Strip casino robberies are set to begin next week.

Jury selection for the trial of Pedro Duarte is scheduled to begin Monday before District Judge Kathy Hardcastle.

Jury selection for the trial of Luis Suarez is scheduled to begin after a two-day break.

Duarte faces seven felony charges including attempted murder with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery or murder and possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with the June 1999 Desert Inn heist.

He had originally also been charged with his brothers-in-law Suarez and Jose Vigoa in robberies at Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, MGM Grand and the fatal robbery of a Ross Dress For Less store in Henderson, in which two guards were killed. Those charges were later dropped.

Suarez still faces two counts of murder, six counts of robbery, burglary and other charges in connection with those and the Desert Inn heist.

Vigoa pleaded guilty in the robberies and is serving four life sentences.

Man indicted in series of heists

A Las Vegas man faces 38 charges in connection with 30 armed robberies of check-cashing companies after a grand jury handed down indictments Tuesday.

Jesus Benitez, 27, was indicted Tuesday on 38 counts, including robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon and resisting a public officer.

He is accused of 25 to 30 robberies in the Las Vegas area, Osvaldo Fumo, Benitez's defense attorney, said.

He was being held at Clark County Detention Center on $1.7 million bail, Deputy District Attorney Phil Brown said. He added that Benitez was indicted in two other armed robbery cases last week that had bail set at an additional $1 million.

Fumo said he will try to get the cases combined into one trial.

Benitez was arrested June 26 after Metro Police stopped him for a traffic violation near Stephanie Street and Hacienda Avenue.