Last defendant in killing of teen at mall sentenced

Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 | 9:02 a.m.

The last of four teenagers charged in last year's fatal beating of a 17-year-old at the Boulevard mall was sentenced Thursday to three to 10 years in prison.

Asdawut "Matt" Yatprachum, 17, previously pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Lee Masangkay.

Yatprachum is one of four teenagers -- all alleged to be members of the Asian "Horny Boys" gang -- who had been charged for Massangkay's killing.

Masangkay had been in the mall with his girlfriend for several hours and had exchanged words with several gang members, police said. He and the girl sat down to eat at the food court about 8 p.m. when the gang members spotted him.

Witnesses saw three or four young men attack Masangkay, kicking him, punching him and hitting him with black plastic and metal food court chairs, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo.

"I apologize for what happened. I would take it back if I could," Yatprachum said Thursday.

DiGiacomo said while Yatprachum didn't use a chair or brass knuckles as his accomplices did he "beat this guy, and at the end of the video tape he's standing over the victim hitting him and holding on to him."

The prosecutor said the victim's father, Carmelito Masangkay, actually punched Yatprachum in the face upon arriving at the scene "to get him off his son."

Carmelito Masangkay, who has spoken at each teenager's sentencings, was present again on Thursday to speak on behalf of his slain son.

"With the loss we have, the family, the whole family has suffered," Carmelito Masangkay said. "There is no amount of words that can bring him back. I'm expecting the maximum sentence the court can hand down."

The senseless nature of the killing left District Judge Michael Cherry wondering aloud what happened to the "sleepy little" town he moved to in the 1970s

As he looked out at his crowded courtroom packed with defendants, he said, "The criminal justice system is a total failure."

Borrowing the controversial slogan of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors, Cherry said, "It's good advice that whatever happens here should stay here."

Masangkay was a popular, artistic 17-year-old who sang in his church choir and wanted to be a minister, his family and friends said, and was never involved in any gang activity.

Kenny Vansouphet, 15, pleaded guilty on Jan. 18 to one count of voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced to six to 20 years in prison.

Happy Oum, 16, also pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon for his role in the killing and was sentenced to six to 20 years in prison.

One other teen involved in the attack, Ratasit "Joe" Oudom, pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to one to four years in prison.

Under Nevada law anyone over 8 years old charged with homicide or attempted homicide must be treated as an adult unless a judge rules otherwise.