Court briefs for Nov. 6, 2003

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

Driver indicted on fatal DUI charges

A man was indicted on DUI charges Wednesday after prosecutors say he drove with PCP in his system and caused a collision in North Las Vegas that killed a 44-year-old man.

A Clark County grand jury indicted Jerry Fitzgerald, Jr., 27, on one count each of DUI causing death or substantial bodily harm, reckless driving, involuntary manslaughter and possession of a stolen vehicle in the Oct. 5 collision that killed Frederick Cooper.

The indictment was unsealed before District Judge Michael Douglas. Fitzgerald is in custody at the North Las Vegas Detention Center with bail set at $1 million.

He will be arraigned Nov. 12 before District Judge John McGroarty.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said Fitzgerald had "a significant amount" of PCP in his system and was driving about 85 mph in a 35 mph zone near Lake Mead Boulevard and D Street when he caused the crash.

Fitzgerald was driving a stolen 1994 Mercedes Benz when the collision occurred, Booker said.

Sexual assault charges dismissed

A judge on Wednesday dismissed two sexual assault counts filed against a former Boy Scout leader.

District Judge Sally Loehrer ruled that there was not enough evidence to warrant two charges of sexual assault with a minor under 14 against Robert Stevenson, 33.

Authorities said Stevenson molested a 12-year-old family member and an 8-year-old family friend. But Loehrer determined that the grand jury testimony of one of the victims did not indicate sexual assault.

The charges each carried a potential sentence of life in prison.

The other charges pending against Stevenson, including lewdness with a minor under 14 and attempted sexual assault with a minor under 14, will stand. A trial is scheduled for March.

Man sentenced in worker's death

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to prison Wednesday on DUI charges stemming from a collision that killed a construction worker.

District Judge Nancy Saitta sentenced Troy Johnson, 36, to seven to 20 years in prison on a single count of DUI causing death or substantial bodily harm.

Johnson was driving with Xanax, morphine and methadone in his system when he hit 42-year-old flag worker Lezlee Johnson, no relation, authorities said. Johnson had pleaded guilty to the charge after negotiating his case with prosecutors.

The May 2002 collision occurred near Jones Boulevard and Smoke Ranch Road. Lezlee Johnson of Boulder City was directing traffic when she was struck.

A motorist, Elizabeth Clark, 32, was also injured in the collision, but she survived.