Jail nurse enters plea in escape plan

Jace Radke

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004 | 8:53 a.m.

A 28-year-old Las Vegas nurse has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of attempting to help a convicted gang member escape from jail.

Christina Lovonda Mathews, who entered her plea in U.S. District Court on Friday, is charged with attempting to help a Rolling 60s Crips gang member to escape from the Las Vegas Detention Center at Stewart Avenue and Mojave Road.

Mathews, who worked at the jail, allegedly tried to help Leland Banks, 29, in planning his escape between March and November, according to court documents.

Banks was found guilty in October of federal racketeering crimes related to a shooting at a convenience store in January and is awaiting sentencing.

A jury deliberated for about nine hours in the case, and Banks faces a possible sentence ranging from 20 to 60 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines.

Banks was convicted of attempted murder and assault, two violent crimes connected to racketeering, and three violations of firearms laws as a result of shooting at a rival gang member sniper-style from the roof of a building across the street from the 7-Eleven on Sierra Vista Drive and Cambridge Street.

Prosecutors said Banks fired six shots from a .22-caliber weapon at Kenny Gilmore because Gilmore had shown him disrespect. By the rules of the gang's code, Banks had to retaliate, prosecutors said.

Mathews is scheduled to be back before a federal judge on Jan. 3 for a hearing to determine if she should be released prior to her trial, which is scheduled for Feb. 7.