Trial ordered in beatings of church worker, senior citizen

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004 | 8:39 a.m.

A 36-year-old man accused of robbing and beating a senior citizen and a church maintenance worker in June will stand trial, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle ruled on Monday.

Roderick Davidson, who allegedly told police he would commit murder to get money to support his drug habit, is facing charges of robbery of a victim over 65, kidnapping, and two counts each of burglary, grand larceny and battery with substantial bodily harm.

Davidson is scheduled for arraignment before District Judge John McGroarty on Aug. 23.

Authorities allege Davidson on June 28 attacked a senior citizen living in a mobile home on North Lamb Boulevard near Washington Avenue.

Upon answering a knock at the door the victim was pushed to the floor by an intruder, who put him in a choke-hold to drag him through his mobile home looking for the man's wallet, the report says.

The intruder stole $60 and the keys to the victim's 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, the victim told police.

Two days later, authorities allege, Davidson approached a worker in a maintenance room at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 4201 E. Stewart Ave. and asked if any jobs were available. Davidson then started pummeling the victim in the face and head, according to police.

The worker fell to the ground and Davidson continued beating him, the report says, then he stole his wallet and car keys and ran to the parking lot, where he fled in the victim's 1988 Toyota pickup truck.

Davidson turned himself in to police on July 5 and confessed to committing both attacks during a recorded police statement the same day, according to the court documents.