News briefs for April 27, 2004

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

Man killed in accident

A driver was killed this morning when his right rear tire blew out and he lost control while driving south on the Las Vegas Beltway approaching Charleston Boulevard, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

The crash occurred just before 7 a.m. The driver was thrown from his silver sport utility vehicle when it hit the center median, Trooper Angie Wolff said.

He landed in the northbound fast lane. A sport utility vehicle hit him, but he most likely was already dead, Wolff said.

The man was not wearing a seat belt, she said. It's not clear how fast he was driving.

A female passenger in the victim's car suffered head injuries and was taken to University Medical Center.

Their names have not yet been released.

Inmate gets life for killing in cell

A Clark County man serving a 10-year term for sexual assault has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the stabbing of a fellow inmate from Las Vegas at the state prison in Ely.

District Judge Steve Dobrescu in Carson City handed down the penalty Monday to Paul Derischebourg, 30.

The state attorney general's office originally filed notice to seek the death penalty, but Derischebourg pleaded guilty to the murder charge and received the consecutive life terms.

Inmate Jacob Armstrong was assigned to Derischebourg's cell in 2001, and within nine minutes of his arrival was stabbed seven times with a homemade knife, the attorney general's office said. Armstrong, who was 21 and from Las Vegas, died 11 days later at University Medical Center.

Armstrong had been serving a 15- to 24-year term for armed robbery.

Derischebourg told investigators the two got into an argument over who would sleep in the bottom bunk. He maintained he was defending himself.

Debt collection raises $3 million

Since starting a debt collection program three years ago, state Controller Kathy Augustine says her office has taken in more than $3 million.

Augustine said in a Monday statement that 19 state agencies have signed contracts with her to collect $17.7 million from firms and people who owe the state money. The office has contracts with OSI Collection Services and Crisis Recovery, which collect the money and then charge the debtor a fee. Augustine said that is the most effective way to collect the money.

Buck finishes Kennedy School

North Las Vegas Councilwoman Shari Buck recently graduated from the John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, the city announced last week.

The three-week program touched on many topics, including political management, policy analysis, the relationship between citizens and government and the ethical and professional responsibilities of leadership, the city statement said.

Program participants must be senior-level executives or elected officials from state or local governments.

Buck used her campaign funds to pay the $9,800 fee for the course, which she attended in February.

The Kennedy School of Government is based in Cambridge, Mass.