Alleged 311 Boyz member sentenced

By Matt Pordum (contact)

Tuesday, May 3, 2005 | 11:02 a.m.

An alleged member of the 311 Boyz gang who violated a judge's order to stay out of trouble was sentenced this morning to a combination of one year of house arrest, three years probation and 30 days in a rehabilitation center for drug abusers.

District Judge Michael Cherry said he was giving Dominic Harriman another chance to "walk the straight and narrow" even though Harriman had already been given "an outstanding negotiation and blew it."

In August 2004 Cherry had fined Harriman $2,000, but did not place Harriman on probation, for the charge of conspiracy to commit burglary he pleaded guilty to in connection with the rock attack that left 18-year-old Stephen Tanner Hansen's face crushed in July 2003.

But Cherry ordered Harriman to stay out of trouble for at least a year.

Police arrested Harriman twice in February. In two separate incidents, Harriman was allegedly found with drugs in his possession. He also faces domestic battery charges from a incident with his girlfriend in Henderson.

As he stood in chains before Cherry on Tuesday, Harriman had told Cherry, "I'm very sorry sir, I just hope you find it in your heart to give me the treatment I need."

Cherry ordered Harriman to a month of inpatient treatment at at a program called Choices in Recovery in Vista, Calif. The judge said upon successful completion of the program Harriman will be placed on house arrest for one year and then is to spend three years on probation.

If Harriman fails to complete the drug program or violates his probation he will be arrested and will serve a 12-month jail sentence, Cherry said.

The judge made it clear that Harriman's case was "not one of my favorite cases and you (Harriman) and the other defendants are not some of my favorite defendants."

Cherry said Harriman had "pushed the envelope as far as you can with this court." Cherry warned Harriman that if he "screws up in anyway" he will be arrested.

Cherry scheduled a status check for July 5 to see if Harriman has completed the drug program by that time and to determine whether he has abided by the terms of his house arrest and probation.

Harriman's attorney, Richard Schonfeld, said he was "pleased that Mr. Harriman had been given the opportunity to undergo drug treatment and prove he can be a productive citizen of this country."

Harriman was arrested on Feb. 23 in Pahrump and charged with possessing stolen property and drugs, according to police. Harriman, who also allegedly had a handgun with him when he was arrested.

On Feb. 28 Metro Police pulled Harriman over about 1 a.m. in the area of Charleston Boulevard and Buffalo Drive for a traffic violation. When they ran a check on him, they found he had four traffic warrants, according to the police report. Then the officers allegedly found methamphetamine in Harriman's possession.

Schonfeld said no charges have been filed against Harriman as of this morning in Pahrump, and Harriman is scheduled for arraignment in Las Vegas Justice Court on his arrest for possession of a controlled substance on June 28.

In addition to the two drug possession cases the defense attorney said Harriman is also set to stand trial at a yet to be determined date on domestic battery charges in Henderson Justice Court.