Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Two men get life sentences for murder of 62-year-old vacationer

Two men were given two consecutive life sentences for a murder in what authorities have called a purse snatching gone wrong.

Judge James Brennan sentenced Adrian McKnight and Michael Smith in Clark County District Court on Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the beating death of 62-year-old Angel Nieva.

Nevada law allows a second consecutive life sentence to be added because of the age of the victim.

A jury convicted both men on June 18 to nine counts each related to the murder of Nieva and the assault and robbery of his wife, Lydia Nieva, who were on vacation in Las Vegas.

The couple was attacked about 2 a.m. on May 29, 2007, outside their timeshare at the Tahiti Resort on Tropicana Avenue.

Lydia Nieva, 65, said she was grabbed from behind and punched by one man while two other men beat her husband. Angel Nieva died May 30, 2007, at University Medical Center from blunt force head injuries, according to the Clark County Coroner’s Office.

“There’s really no reason for it except the greed of these two defendants,” Brennan said.

The conviction included a robbery charge for stealing a purse from a 24-year-old woman a couple of hours before the attack on the Nievas.

During a series of robberies in 2007, Smith and McKnight targeted elderly or middle-aged people who appeared to have money but would be unable to defend themselves, Deputy District Attorney David Stanton said.

The men were arrested in September 2007.

Smith pleaded guilty in three separate cases earlier this year and was sentenced to 12 to 30 years in prison.

McKnight is awaiting trial in a robbery and kidnapping case from a 2006 incident.

“This was a pattern of behavior that is consistent with the way that Mr. McKnight has performed for a period of time,” Stanton said.

Attorney Cynthia Dustin had asked that her client, McKnight, be eligible for parole after 20 years. She said McKnight admitted to attacking Lydia Nieva and stealing her purse but that he never touched Angel Nieva.

“My client ... regardless of whose fault it was, always accepted responsibility,” she said.

A third man in the attack, Ronnie Gibson, pleaded guilty in May to voluntary manslaughter, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. He is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 28.

Both Dustin and Smith’s attorney, Brian Bloomfield, argued that Gibson was responsible for Angel Nieva’s death.

Gibson told police that he was in an alcove urinating during the attack and only hit Lydia Nieva to ensure he would receive part of the stolen money.

Gibson, who is not in custody, testified against McKnight and Smith in exchange for pleading guilty to reduced charges.

“I believe that is what the jury hung their hat on,” Bloomfield said.

Lydia Nieva and her two adult children spoke during the sentencing hearing and said Angel Nieva was a dedicated father and husband. He volunteered at his church, donated blood often, carried spare change to give to those who asked for it and was an organ donor.

“That’s the last thing he was able to do in his life was do what he did for 60-plus years of his life and that was give,” Stanton said.

Since the attack in which she suffered numerous bruises to her face, arms and legs, Lydia Nieva said she has been scared even in familiar places and experiences grief, anger and pity.

“It’s a nightmare and even now I can’t believe it,” she said. “I cannot imagine why it happened to us.”

Her daughter, Glenda Blumenthal, said Angel Nieva was the oldest of six boys who grew up in a Filipino village. He immigrated to the United States in 1973, earned a degree in chemistry and was nearing retirement from Raytheon Corp. after nearly 20 years. The couple lived in La Mirada, Calif.

Nearly 400 people attended his funeral, she said.

Nelson Nieva, the victims’ son, said, “I don’t believe that the men who beat and robbed my parents understood how many lives they were affecting.”

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