Horrocks couple plead not guilty in election case

Erica D. Johnson

Thursday, May 8, 2003 | 9:03 a.m.

A North Las Vegas couple on Wednesday began fighting voter fraud charges leveled against them in connection with the Assembly District 37 election.

Bar owner Gary Lee Horrocks and his wife, Pamela, were arraigned before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on charges alleging they filed fraudulent documents when they cast absentee ballots for Assemblyman Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas, on behalf of Las Vegas voters.

Conklin won the election by 134 votes over Republican Francis Allen. Horrocks was an unsuccessful candidate in the primary election.

Gary Horrocks, 50, pleaded not guilty to 62 criminal counts, which include multiple charges of violation of the law governing elections, fraud, conspiracy and burglary.

Pamela Jean Horrocks, 51, who was indicted three weeks after her husband, is charged with eight criminal counts, including violation of the law governing elections, conspiracy and forgery.

Dominic Gentile, Gary Horrocks' attorney, told Bonaventure there was no need for him to read aloud a copy of the lengthy criminal complaint filed against his client.

"We're prepared to enter a general plea of not guilty to all the counts," Gentile said.

The couple, who appeared on a summons, pleaded not guilty and invoked their right to a speedy trial. The trial is scheduled for June 23, and prosecutors have not requested bail.

"At this time we do not consider them to be flight risks or a threat to the community," Chief Deputy District Attorney Jim Sweetin said.

Gentile said he planned to file a motion to dismiss the charges against his client, but would not comment further.

Michael Cristalli, Pamela Horrocks' attorney, said he also planned to file a motion to dismiss charges against his client.

He said no plans had been made to ask that the couple be tried separately.

The couple faces one to four years in prison on each election violation charge and one to four years for each forgery charge.

The single burglary charge carries a one- to 10-year prison sentence. All of the charges are probationable.

Allen, who attended Wednesday's hearing, said she was surprised Horrocks pleaded not guilty to the charges.

"The grand jury transcripts are so rock solid," she said. "It's clear that he manipulated the election."

Even though the number of fraudulent ballots discovered were not enough to change the outcome, Allen said she has come to terms with her belief that the true winner of the election may remain a mystery.

"We'll never know who exactly won the race," she said. "There's just no way to say."