Woman to plead to keep son’s killer in prison for life

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 | 9:42 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A 72-year-old Las Vegas woman later this month will plead with state authorities to keep her son's killer in prison for the rest of his life.

Hama Hintz's son, Tony Sylvester, was shot to death in July 1980 by James Allen during a home burglary.

Allen was sentenced to death for the shooting, but the Nevada Supreme Court overturned the death sentence. Allen then agreed to a plea negotiation in which he received life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The state Pardons Board voted 4-2 in December to reduce the sentence to allow Allen to apply for parole. He applied and his hearing is set for Jan. 28 before the state Parole Commission.

"I don't want him to get out," Hintz said. "He murdered my son."

"My son is in the cemetery and I have never stopped grieving for him. I lost my son forever."

Allen, who was 19 at the time, broke into the Sylvester's home for a burglary. Sylvester awoke and walked into the hallway where he was fatally shot in the face.

Hintz said her son had bought an engagement ring and intended to meet his girlfriend the next morning at the airport, as she was flying in from New York. She said her son wanted to talk to her about getting married.

Hintz said she was in the process of moving back to Las Vegas from Arizona last month and there was a glitch in the mail so she did not get her notification in time to appear before the state Pardons Board.

But she said she is trying to make arrangements to appear before the parole board. She and her surviving son have already written a letter opposing any release.

Allen, now 44, had made three previous appearances before the state Pardons Board and had been denied each time until last month. He has been involved in a variety of rehabilitation programs and has not had a disciplinary mark against him since 1999.

Allen told the state Pardons Board he was sorry for the killing.

"I took a life," Allen told the board. "God chastises me every day."

The Clark County District Attorney's Office had opposed the reduction in sentence, suggesting Allen serve more time.

Supreme Court Justice Bob Rose, a member of the board, said he had been at the three previous hearings. He said: "I see a different man. He's more mature and not angry."

Allen, in delivering his plea for mercy, sang a song he composed in which he chanted he was "sorry for all the wrong I have done. Please Lord forgive me."