Assaults on jogger, biker draw life

Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 | 9:56 a.m.

A Las Vegas man who pleaded guilty to attacking a jogger and a bicyclist in a neighborhood near The Lakes was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure sentenced 23-year-old William Whitehead to life in prison on one count of first-degree kidnapping.

Whitehead was also sentenced to four to 10 years in prison on a count of battery with intent to commit sexual assault and five to 12 years on an attempted sexual assault charge. He will be eligible for parole after about 10 years has passed.

Whitehead pleaded guilty to the charges during a December hearing. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop multiple other charges, including lewdness and sexual assault.

Authorities say a woman was riding her bike in the 9600 block of Spring Mountain Road when the car Whitehead was driving hit her from behind and knocked her down. Police say Whitehead attacked the woman and tried to force her into the trunk of his car.

Whitehead within minutes approached the second woman, who was jogging near Durango Drive and Desert Inn Road. Authorities say he chased her, fondled her and tried to throw her into his trunk as well. Both women were successful in fighting off their attacker.