News briefs for Oct. 28, 2003

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003 | 11:09 a.m.

Man convicted in cabdriver shooting

A jury last week convicted a Las Vegas man of multiple felony charges stemming from the May shooting of a cabdriver.

Jurors found Charles H. Stanton guilty of attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping and attempted robbery with a deadly weapon after a trial in District Court.

Stanton was charged with shooting Mark Chavez, a Star Cap driver, on May 9. Chavez is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in the attack, according to the Taxicab Authority.

Stanton is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 11 before District Judge Jackie Glass.

In a similar case, Wagnaw "Kevin" Getahun has pleaded guilty to robbery with a deadly weapon and first-degree kidnapping in relation to a string of separate taxi robberies during the summer.

He is awaiting a Nov. 26 sentencing.

Arnold, staff meet with Guinn aide

California Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger and key staffers met over the weekend with Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn's chief of staff to talk about the economy, Indian gaming, energy, Lake Tahoe and other "border" issues that link the neighboring states.

Guinn staff chief Marybel Batjer described the meeting Saturday at Schwarzenegger's home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles as "old home week" for her, since she worked for former California Gov. Pete Wilson, and many of Schwarzenegger's top aides and advisers did also.

Batjer said she met off and on for two or three hours with Schwarzenegger, chief of staff Pat Clarey, attorney and trusted Schwarzenegger aide Bonnie Reiss, policy adviser Joe Rodota and others.

Batjer described the Brentwood area meeting as "setting up good relations between the two states" and a prelude to direct meetings and phone conversations between the two Republican governors after Schwarzenegger is sworn in next month. Guinn spoke with Schwarzenegger immediately after his election to congratulate him and briefly mention the two states' shared concerns.