News briefs for Jan. 9, 2004

Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 | 10:45 a.m.

Court upholds murder conviction

The Nevada Supreme Court Thursday upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Anthony Hurd-Samuels, who pleaded guilty to the shotgun death of Lawrence Towers Jr. in November 1994 in Las Vegas.

The killing, according to court records, took place inside a stolen 1984 Cadillac that belonged to police Officer Yancy Murphy, who reported it missing the day of the murder. When the car was recovered days later, blood was found splattered on the inside, and fingerprints of the suspect were in it.

Hurd-Samuels sought to withdraw his plea two months after he had pleaded guilty to the murder charge and a count of sexual assault.

Hurd-Samuels said that his lawyer persuaded him to plead guilty when he was innocent.

The Supreme Court said Hurd-Samuels was extensively questioned whether his plea was voluntary and if he knew the punishment and he said he did.

Hurd-Samuels received a life term with the possibility of parole after 10 years for the murder charge and a consecutive life term with the possibility of parole after five years for the sexual assault charge for an attack on a 26-year-old woman in August 1994.

Ex-cop sentenced for exposure

A former North Las Vegas Police officer charged with exposing himself to children was sentenced to probation on Thursday, after he worked out a deal with prosecutors.

District Judge John McGroarty sentenced Kevin B. Huggins to a year in the Clark County Detention Center after Huggins pleaded guilty to a single count of child abuse and neglect, a gross misdemeanor.

McGroarty suspended the sentence, however, and placed Huggins on probation for a fixed period of three years. Huggins also was ordered to perform community service and attend counseling sessions.

Huggins resigned from the North Las Vegas Police Department on Dec. 15, Justin Roberts, department spokesman, said this morning.

Huggins had turned himself in to authorities in June after police received a call from an elementary school about lewdness with a minor. The police report said the offense occurred between April 4 and April 6.

Public meeting set on NLV codes

A public meeting to discuss proposed North Las Vegas laws regarding where broken-down vehicles can be kept and stricter property maintenance rules will be held Wednesday at the city's Silver Mesa Recreation Center.

The proposed laws are part of a series of new ordinances intended to keep the city looking good by giving officials more power to fine residents for failing to keep up their properties.

The laws have prompted a debate among residents and city officials over exactly how much power the city should have to tell people what they can and can't do on their private property. In light of the controversy, the council decided to hold meetings to take public comment on the proposed laws.

The proposed laws that will be discussed Wednesday would require junked or broken-down cars be kept out of sight, including barring them from driveways, and other general property maintenance rules such as keeping lawns trimmed.

The Wednesday meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Silver Mesa Recreation Center, 4025 Allen Lane, North Las Vegas.

For more information, contact Sheldon Klain, city Code Enforcement Manager, at 633-1906.

Man sought on sex assault charge

North Las Vegas Police are searching for a man wanted on 14 counts of sexual assault of a minor, Officer Justin Roberts said.

Police issued a warrant for the arrest of Onesino Ortiz-Flores, 38, also charging him with six counts of lewdness with a minor.

He may be employed as a construction worker, sheet metal worker or mechanic. Police believe he is in the Las Vegas area, but he may have fled to California. He is a native of Mexico.

Anyone with information on Ortiz-Flores is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or North Las Vegas Police at 385-5555.

Residents evacuate burning home

One person was treated for smoke inhalation after fire destroyed a house this morning near Tropicana Avenue and Mountain Vista Street.

The three occupants of the house in the 4700 block of Rita Drive were awakened by a smoke alarm about 4 a.m. and escaped before firefighters arrived, Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

Fire investigators said the fire started in a back bedroom occupied by a 32-year-old man. A space heater is normally used in that room, but investigators said the fire could also have been linked to careless smoking. It was ruled accidental.

The family dog died in the fire, probably from smoke and gas inhalation.

A female occupant was taken to Sunrise Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. The fire caused an estimated $165,000 in damage, Leinbach said.

Probation officers find meth, rifle

Probation officers made an unannounced visit to a probationer's home Wednesday and found nearly 40 grams of methamphetamine and a rifle, officials said.

Jose Borja, 36 was arrested on charges of violating probation. At the time of his arrest he was on probation in California for illegal gun possession, Kimberly Evans, spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Public Safety, said.

Evans said officers found 38.8 grams of methamphetamine in a spray can with a false bottom and a rifle with 18 live rounds of ammunition. Metro is expected to file drug trafficking charges against Borja, Evans said.

Berkley to meet with constituents

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., will be at the Boulevard mall from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday to meet with constituents.

Berkley and her staff will be on hand to help constituents with Social Security or Medicare claims, immigration questions, taxes, veterans care issues and other matters.

Berkley will appear in the Brookstone Court in the mall at Maryland Parkway and Desert Inn Road.

Montandon plans State of the City

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon will deliver his annual State of the City address Jan. 22 at Texas Station.

Tickets for the lunchtime event cost $25 per person or $250 per table of 10 people.

Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, and are available in the city manager's office or by calling 633-1005.

Montandon said his speech is titled "Evolution not Revolution," and would cover "the continuing evolution of North Las Vegas." He wouldn't elaborate.

In past years the mayor has used the address to highlight past and coming major projects and the rapid growth of the city.

The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the address beginning at noon.

A man shot and killed

Jan. 4 in the 900 block of Bonanaza Road has been identified as 53-year-old Blane Travis Lee Hickey, the Clark County coroner's office said. Hickey was seen walking down 10th Street with gunshot wounds and died in a nearby alley, Metro Police said. No arrests have been made.