Two charged in drag-race death

By Timothy Pratt

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 | 8:49 a.m.

Two men were charged Wednesday with two counts each of reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident for their alleged involvement in a summer drag race that left a third driver dead.

Kent Edward Wilcox, 28, and Paul James Mooney, 22, each face prison sentences of six to 42 years if convicted, Deputy District Attorney Gary R. Booker said.

A warrant was issued Wednesday for Wilcox's arrest, and Mooney was already in custody for violating probation in an unrelated case, authorities said.

The two were allegedly involved in an Aug. 4 race along the 10400 block of Bermuda Road, after having some drinks in the Hurricane Bar and Grill.

Authorities allege that Wilcox, in his 1999 BMW with the license plate, "FASTEDI," and Mooney, in a 2003 Honda with a temporary plate, were going more than 100 mph when a third driver who was racing with them crashed.

Justin Lindsey, 31, lost control of his Nissan 350Z, knocked down two light poles, and died in the explosion that followed.

"It was a terrible loss of life," Booker said. "We live in a society where we need to follow the rules and these people were drag racing in a residential neighborhood."

Wilcox could not be reached for comment and did not have an attorney of record Wednesday. Mooney's attorney, Tom Burns, did not return calls Wednesday.

Booker said he has prosecuted increasing numbers of cases involving drag races in recent years and that illegal racing is increasingly dangerous as the Las Vegas Valley becomes more urban.

"This is a problem," he said.

"As the community gets more developed, there's a lot less open road and desert out there."