LOOKING IN ON: COURTS

By Brian Eckhouse (contact)

Friday, Dec. 28, 2007 | 7:19 a.m.

It's the sort of crime way beneath most courts reporters' radar - three stolen sandwiches amounting to $7 or $8 - but it's atop a pile of cases for Public Defender Phil Kohn.

Probably because he finds one of the charges inexplicably excessive.

Kohn is incensed the district attorney's office has charged Sirinapa Phouphayry with a felony. Phouphayry, Kohn said, didn't use force in his crime.

"That case - where you have someone arrested for a felony burglary for $7 in sandwiches - is an incredible waste of taxpayer money," Kohn said. "Felonies are for the worst offenders."

Phouphayry, who Kohn says is extremely poor, allegedly stole the food Dec. 9 at The Flamingo Stop at 8615 W. Flamingo Road. The defendant also has been charged with petty larceny, conspiracy to commit possession of stolen property and possession of stolen property - all misdemeanors.

District Attorney David Roger defended the felony charge, saying the lack of a weapon doesn't necessarily make it a misdemeanor under state law. He said it will be up to a court to decide.

Arraignments for two former University Medical Center supervisors who allegedly stole materials from the hospital and enlisted employees for their personal use won't be held until Feb. 6.

Thomas Hutchinson and Christopher Roth had been scheduled to enter pleas Dec. 18.

Roth, who had been UMC's associate director of support services, and Hutchinson, a former acting director of the hospital's facilities maintenance section, face theft and other charges.

A criminal complaint alleges that Hutchinson stole $500 worth of UMC paint to use on an outbuilding on his personal property, as well as an $8,000 commercial-grade compressor and at least $2,500 worth of cabinets from the hospital.

Hutchinson also allegedly traded almost $800 in UMC materials for gift cards at a Lowe's home improvement store.

Roth allegedly had employees make signs and construct air conditioners for his personal businesses.

Two lower-level UMC employees, Peter Panagos and Sime Perkov, are accused of constructing the air conditioners for Roth while being paid by the hospital. Their arraignments also are scheduled for Feb. 6 in Justice Court.

Looking for information on a particular case in District Court? A quick search through the county's Web site probably will offer most, if not all, filings related to the case - and, of course, its status.

That isn't true for Justice Court, which generally handles smaller civil and criminal complaints. If you're seeking a detail as simple as whether a hearing was postponed, there are limited resources, and the Web isn't one of them.

The most common alternative is asking a clerk at the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas. Foot traffic is typically heavy there, so be prepared to wait 20 to 30 minutes to make an inquiry, and then another 15 minutes for a printout of court minutes.

"I know that's kind of frustrating," said LaDeana Gamble, the justice center's assistant court administrator. "But the majority of folks who come down here probably have questions they need answered."

For those who don't need direction - just case facts - the Web option will be available soon, possibly by summer.

"We're coming into the 21st century," Gamble said, laughing.