Request to ban TV cameras denied

Thursday, July 29, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle on Wednesday denied a defense attorney's request to keep television cameras out of the courtroom during the appearances a 39-year-old convicted sex offender currently facing charges of sexually assaulting minors.

Oesterle ruled against Deputy Public Defender Dan Silverman's request to deny the television station access to Steve McNeil's court appearances.

Silverman filed his motion to deny television camera access to McNeill's hearing in response to local Fox News affiliate, KVVU Channel 5's, presence at McNeill's initial appearance. Silverman said the station filed its request for access at the last minute and he argued that the presence of the camera in the courtroom could "prejudice" jurors against McNeill.

McNeill, who held a white piece of paper in front of his face throughout his time in the courtroom on Wednesday, is scheduled to appear next for his preliminary hearing on Aug. 25 before Oesterle.

McNeill is charged with sexual assault of a victim under 14, failure to register as a sex offender and two counts of lewdness with a minor.

Court records show he was convicted of attempted lewdness in California in 1987. Anyone convicted of a sex offense must notify local law enforcement of their address and McNeill had failed to do so, police said.

McNeill, who worked at a moving company, is being held at Clark County Detention Center on $23,000 bail.