News briefs for May 20, 2004

Thursday, May 20, 2004 | 11:09 a.m.

Three indicted in fraud case

Three people were indicted by a Clark County grand jury Wednesday in connection with a consumer fraud case that targeted people who were unable to make payments on their vehicles, the state attorney general's office said.

Eddie Lopez, 23; Jose Aguilera, 29; and Misty Huff, 27; were doing business as A & E Auto Saver and Alternative Auto, Tom Sargent, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said.

The indictment alleges they took possession of vehicles from owners who couldn't afford the payments and promised to sell them to third parties. However, the defendants never obtained the legal title necessary to sell the vehicles and kept the majority of the payments collected from the third-party buyers, Sargent said.

As a result, he said, in each case there were two victims: a person who allegedly lost the vehicle and the other who allegedly lost money.

Lopez was indicted on 29 counts of theft; Aguilera was indicted on two counts of theft-aiding and abetting and Huff was indicted on 13 counts of theft-aiding and abetting.

Climber rescued near Red Rock

Las Vegas Search and Rescue was called to the Calico Wash near the Red Rock Canyon Visitors Center Tuesday evening after a man fell 25 feet from a rock and landed in rough terrain, Metro Police spokesman Sgt. Rick Barela said.

Rescue teams received a call about 6:45 p.m. from a witness who saw the man fall from a rock, Barela said.

The man was located and treated at the scene before being taken at 9 p.m. by ambulance to the hospital for minor back injuries, Barela said.

Cookies are being recalled

A Canadian company is recalling about 36,000 packages of cookies sold in 22 states because they may contain nuts that weren't declared on the label.

The recalled cookies were sold under the Essensia brand at Albertsons and ACME grocery stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

People who purchased the cookies should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call the company at 1-800-265-6508, Ext. 227.

Veterinarian verdict upheld

The Nevada Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the finding that veterinarian Bradley Gilman was guilty of gross negligence in his treatment of a dog that died in Clark County in October 1998.

The court affirmed the findings of the state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners that there was "clear and convincing evidence" regarding Gilman's treatment of "Gardener" a young beagle that died the night he was treated by Gilman.

However, the court found that an order that he pay $18,093 in court and investigative fees was too high. The court said the board was wrong to include the attorney fees and the cost of the meal for the prosecuting attorney.

Two Bellagio workers injured

Two Bellagio employees suffered electrical burns after being shocked about 10 this morning in the hotel's chiller, the Clark County Fire Department said.

Bob Leinbach, spokesman for the fire department, said an electrical arc occurred in the chiller area, part of the air-conditioning system that converts water condensation into cool air.

At least one of the victims suffered second-degree burns. Both were taken to University Medical Center. A small fire was extinguished, Leinbach said.

Officials with the Bellagio and Nevada Power were investigating.

Last month the Bellagio experienced a three-day power outage. The failure occurred internally on resort-owned power lines.