Court briefs for December 21, 2004

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004 | 9:40 a.m.

Teen to be tried as an adult

A 16-year-old boy accused of killing a boy of the same age last month will stand trial as an adult, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace James Bixler ruled Monday.

Michael Jones is charged with murder in connection with the Nov. 28 death of Rayshond Jones at Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards.

Nevada law requires anyone older than 8 to be tried as an adult if charged with murder or attempted murder.

Jones is scheduled for arraignment before District Judge Jackie Glass on Dec. 28.

A Metro Police officer on patrol heard gunshots near Doolittle Park in the 900 block of Doolittle Avenue about 11 p.m. on Nov. 28 and saw five older boys or young men running toward a parked car at a nearby apartment complex, police said.

Police stopped the group and found several guns in the car. Officers arrested Michael Jones, released two other teens to their parents, released an adult and arrested another adult on an unrelated warrant.

Three finalists set for judge post

The state Judicial Selection Commission Monday nominated three Reno attorneys to succeed Family Court Judge Charles McGee, who is retiring.

The nominees are Cassandra D. Campbell, 53, in private practice; David A. Hardy, 40, with the law firm of Hardy and Woodman; and Myra A. Sheehan, 50, with Nevada Legal Services.

The nominations will be forwarded to Gov. Kenny Guinn, who will make the final selection. Nine lawyers had applied to replace McGee.

Conviction upheld in killing of wife

The Nevada Supreme Court on Monday upheld the first-degree murder conviction of a man found guilty of staging a car crash that killed his wife on a mountain road in 1998.

For the 1997 death of 47-year-old Rinette Riella-Bergna, Peter Bergna, 52, of Incline Village, is serving a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

The state's high court on Monday rejected a series of claims that errors were made at Bergna's second trial in District Court in Reno. Bergna's first trial ended in a hung jury.

In a separate opinion, the court denied the request of Bergna to remain free on bail pending his appeal. The court ruled that judges have the power to grant bail to those convicted of first-degree murder pending appeal. In this case, the court said Bergna failed to show his release "will pose no danger to the community or risk of flight."