Teenager avoids execution

Erica D. Johnson

Friday, March 28, 2003 | 11:10 a.m.

Isaac Perez had big plans for his future.

The 21-year-old had moved to Las Vegas from Waco, Texas, to be near his family and he was taking classes at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

He worked as a custodian at Ruth Fyfe Elementary School but had dreams of coaching youth basketball.

"He wanted to teach kids that you don't have to be 7 feet tall to make your dreams come true," said his grandmother, Miriam Quintana. But those dreams screeched to a halt when Perez was killed in a carjacking in May.

Now, his family is trying to cope with their loss as a yearlong court battle to convict the man they say is responsible nears an end.

Giles Manley, 17, on Thursday pleaded guilty to 12 felony counts, including two counts of murder with use of a deadly weapon, in the crime spree that left Perez and Patrick Melia, 41, dead.

Manley, who was 16 at the time of the alleged crime, will be formally sentenced before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on May 15.

By entering his plea, the teen was able to avoid the death penalty, which his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Joseph Abood, called "a likelihood" had the case gone to trial.

"Mr. Manley has determined that it would be in his best interest to enter a guilty plea," Abood said.

Prosecutors said Quintana should be able to sleep easier at night knowing her grandson's killer will more than likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.

But Quintana said she wants to speak for herself at Manley's sentencing. She said Manley deserves to die for what he did to her grandson.

"He has shown no remorse," she said, crying. "I was looking forward to the day I could see him die."

The plea agreement stipulates Manley receive the maximum sentence for each count and that the counts run consecutively.

That means multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Lalli.

The agreement is also conditional, which means prosecutors can withdraw the deal if Bonaventure fails to hand down the recommended sentence.

Abood said he and Deputy Public Defender Nancy Lemcke had spoken to Manley and Manley's mother, Sherry Johnson, at length and both agreed the plea was the best option.

Johnson was in the courtroom during Thursday's hearing.

Authorities allege Manley shot Perez after kidnapping him from the school where he worked and forcing him to drive away in his new Lincoln Town Car. When he was apprehended, Manley shot Trooper Guy Davis in the foot, police said.

Manley allegedly then carjacked a Chevrolet Tahoe from a local couple and their 10-month-old-daughter before leading police on a high-speed chase that ended when he crashed into another vehicle, killing Melia.

Joan Melia, Melia's mother, said it didn't matter if Manley was put to death, as long as she could find closure.

"I have my bad days," she said. "I miss him terribly. He was a wonderful person who took care of me. And now I don't have him anymore."