News briefs for April 5, 2005

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 | 9:29 a.m.

Measure targeting pimps approved

The Assembly Judiciary Committee Monday approved a bill intended to make it easier to prosecute pimps.

Metro Police Sgt. Gil Shannon told the committee that the number of arrests of prostitutes younger than 18 rose dramatically last year to more than 200. That compares with slightly more than 70 a few years ago.

Shannon said some of the young prostitutes are forced into prostitution but the present law requires the coorboration of a third party to convict the panderer.

"Because of the current law, we were unable to proceed" with trials in some of those cases, he said.

He said the cases have been turned over to the federal government that does not require a third party to back up the statement of the prostitute that she was recruited by a pimp.

Assembly Bill 470 would eliminate the requirement of third-party corroboration. It would allow the jury or judge to decide the truthfulness of the prostitute in testimony against the defendant.

Lake Mead road to close

Repairing a culvert will force the National Park Service to close Northshore Road north of Stewart's Point to south of Overton Beach Marina from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

The temporary closure is necessary because it is not possible to detour traffic around the work area.

Access to Overton Beach Marina is not affected when driving to the resort from Interstate 15 and State Route 109, although the Valley of Fire State Park does charge a fee. Motorists may also reach the marina south from Overton on State Route 169.

Columnist reveals his DUI arrest

Jon Ralston, host of "Face to Face With Jon Ralston" and a Las Vegas Sun columnist, said he was arrested for driving under the influence Saturday.

Trooper Angie Chavera, spokeswoman for the Nevada Highway Patrol, did not return phone calls, but Ralston said he was pulled over by a trooper on the Las Vegas Beltway near Pecos Road for erratic driving at 10:22 p.m.

He was subsequently arrested for drunken driving and taken to the Clark County Detention Center.

In his "Flash" e-mail newsletter Monday, Ralston disclosed his arrest, calling it a "stupid mistake."

"There is a danger in a professional life spent exposing the infirmities of others that your own fallibility is exposed. This is one of those moments," he wrote.

"Even though the law enforcement personnel uniformly behaved professionally and impeccably, it was a humbling and humiliating experience," he continued. "I will do what I need to do to make this right and I apologize to my friends and family for the embarrassment."

Officer involved in shooting ID'd

A Metro Police officer who shot and wounded a man who allegedly robbed two people at gunpoint Friday night has been identified as Kenneth Rios Jr. Rios has been with Metro for eight months.

Two people had reported that they were robbed at gunpoint in an apartment in the 2200 block of West Bonanza Road, police said.

Police tried to stop one of the suspects, but during a foot chase the man turned and reached for his waistband, and Rios fired twice at him. Police said a gun was later recovered from near the shooting but it may have been thrown by the suspect prior to the shooting.

The suspect was taken to University Medical Center, where he was expected to recover.

Police have not confirmed his identity and booked him in absentia at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of attempted murder of a police officer, two counts of robbery with a weapon, two counts of kidnapping, burglary and assault.