Death penalty sought in cabbie slaying

Monday, Oct. 4, 2004 | 11:26 a.m.

A man accused of killing a cabdriver by setting him on fire during a robbery will face the death penalty, but probably not for a year.

James Scholl, 33, pleaded not guilty this morning to charges of murder, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, mayhem and third-degree arson in connection with the Aug. 20 attack on 51-year-old Pairoj Chitprasart, a Nellis Cab driver.

District Judge Jennifer Togliatti set a trial date for October or November 2005, however, after Special Public Defender Alzora Jackson asked for time to prepare for the case.

The district attorney's office is seeking the death penalty against Scholl, who waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Sept. 13. He continues to be held in the Clark County Detention Center without bail.

Police arrested Scholl on Aug. 21 after he bragged to a friend that he had set a cabbie on fire because he refused to hand over his money, according to police records. Scholl also allegedly had bragged in the past about robbing cabdrivers and threatening to douse them with gasoline if they didn't give him money, the police report says

Deputy District Attorney Susan Benedict opposed the trial date being set a year away, prompting Togliatti to schedule a status check for Jan. 3, to check on Jackson's progress in investigating Scholl's case and set a trial date.