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Mona Shield Payne/Special to the Sun
Standing beside his attorney James Oronoz, Gregory Hover listens to Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joseph Sciscento during his arraignment Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, at the Regional Justice Center Hover, a legal runner, is facing multiple felony counts in connection with a violent home invasion Jan. 25 that left Julio Romero dead and his wife, Roberta Romero, seriously wounded.
By Cara McCoy 
Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 | 9:21 a.m.
Sun Archives
A second person has been arrested in connection with a violent home invasion in southwest Las Vegas.
Richard Freeman, 18, was booked Thursday night on felony counts of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery and burglary, all with a deadly weapon, according to jail records.
He is accused of being involved with 38-year-old Gregory Hover, a process server who worked for a legal firm serving civil papers. Hoover is facing multiple felony counts in connection with an attack in the early morning hours of Jan. 25 that left Julio Romero, 64, dead and his wife, Roberta Romero, seriously wounded.
Hover, who was arrested Feb. 6, appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Friday morning with bandages on his neck and arms. He was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, each count with a deadly weapon; two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon; two counts of burglary, with one burglary count enhanced with use of a deadly weapon; attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon; and one count of coercion with use of a deadly weapon, in connection with the attack on the couple.
Hover was set to appear for arraignment Wednesday but the hearing was delayed after Hover attempted suicide while incarcerated at the Clark County Detention Center. He will next appear in front of Justice of the Peace Joseph Sciscento on Tuesday, alongside Freeman, who will be named as a codefendant in the case. Prosecutors said they intend to file formal charges against Freeman at that time.
Both men are being held without bail, but attorneys will address bail at a hearing next Friday.
Hover is accused of returning to the Romeros' home, near the intersection of Jones Boulevard and Russell Road, in the early morning hours of Jan. 25, a few hours after he had been there in an attempt to locate another man who Hover said owed $10,000 in a civil matter.
When Hover returned to the home, he allegedly shot Julio Romero dead before robbing Roberta Romero and then ushering her into a closet, where he shot her in the face. She survived and called 911 after the intruder left her home.
Roberta Romera remains hospitalized and her condition is touch-and-go, prosecutors said today.
Police identified Hover through civil records for the action against the man he told the Romeros he was looking for. Roberta Romero was able to identify him from a photo lineup.
Hover was interviewed last Friday and admitted to police he was at the Romero residence on Jan. 24, but said he left and never returned. The interview ended when Hover requested to speak with an attorney, police said.
A report released detailing Hover’s arrest indicates a man named Richard Freeman was with him the night the Romeros were attacked. Freeman reportedly told police he had been in Hover’s car several blocks away and heard muffled gunshots come from the area of the Romeros’ home.
Police later learned that Roberta Romero’s ATM card had been used at a convenience store shortly after the shootings and obtained surveillance video images of the person who withdrew cash. Investigators later identified the man in the tape as Freeman.
Investigators said cell phone records link Hover and Freeman as making calls to one another at the time of the shooting and at the time the man exited the convenience store where Roberta Romero’s card was used.
Freeman reportedly told investigators he pawned several items allegedly taken from the Romeros' home.
When interviewed by police, Freeman said that shortly after leaving the Romero residence, Hover told him he had bound the man of the house with duct tape and had shot the woman in the face after he made her give him money.
Hover then gave Freeman a bag of jewelry to pawn, Freeman told police. He also told investigators he had never gone into the home and did not participate in the shooting of either victim.
A preliminary hearing in the case was set for Feb. 26.
"Now we will see what really happend"
State RAT no more HUH FREEMAN_
the stuff people will do for money.
I'm talking about the blood sucking lawyers :P
Why do they call it innocent until proven guilty?? This is a clear case of guilty until prove innocent. I don't disagree with the no bail thing. I just get tired of our legal system lieing all the time. Call it what it is.
You're not seeing what really happened. Only what police are telling you. Freeman is not a state rat. When you and your family are being threatened I'm sure you'd be driving around some psycho as well. If you were in this position, you'd be cooperating as much as you could. You're life is at risk. Freeman isn't completely innocent but he should be heard. He could've went to police earlier in this but he was afraid and also has mental issues. He didn't know what to think or do. And just look at Hover. He looks like a killer. He looks like someone that would be doing strange things. And honestly, looks like a creepy rapist. He's the guy you'd look at in the store and tell your kids to stay away from. If you saw Freeman in a store you'd tell your kids not to be like him when they grow up. Totally different reactions. Freeman is a kid. And he is nowhere near demented to do something like this. He wouldn't throw the rest of his life away for something like this. He's not stupid. Let's hope they get Freeman's girlfriend to make a statement. She knows him better than anyone.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was in all caps.
D E A T H S E N T E N C E for the one that pulled the trigger!
I agree with silverravenwolf. Judging a book by its cover and giving violent 18-year-olds a break are both really stupid outlooks. And OF COURSE we're only getting part of the story. Welcome to the reality of government-media relations if you ever thought you were getting the full story in any article, and judging by your shallow outlook, it sounds like you may have actually thought that at one time!
I believe James Oronoz is a partner of Robert Draskovich, who was held by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, along with attorney Dean Kajiocka, to have wrongfully witheld their substantial attorneys fees and failed to inquire as to the source of their attorneys fees and if those fees were derived from the fruits of their clients crimes.
See the published opinion of FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION v. Robert M. Draskovich, and Dean Kajioka, 305 F.3d 256.
In Draskovich's case, he feebly argued he should be allowed to keep the money because, he alleged, he did not get proper notice of any asset freeze order. The Appeals court smacked Draskovich down saying "the notion that he (Draskovich) did not have notice is particularly fantastic because he took part in negotiating the stipulated judgment that set out the procedures by which he petitioned the court to keep his retainer." Ouch.
Hello youllneverknow, it seems that with a name like that you think you know something of this case if so clear the air and become "A STATE RAT LIKE FREEMAN".
If Freeman was (seems not so) threatend in away that his family may or may not have been in danger then I am sure when he claims to be alone in the car a few blocks away, Dont you think anyone in such danger would drive off and call 911? He had a cell phone on him right?
Look at Hovers myspace nice family life and then look at Freemans myspace he is SMOKING WEED and displays many other troubling item's.
Freeman is not a kid he is 18 that by law makes him an adult you donkey. You must be a family member to try to say the things that you are saying but you cant hide the fact that POOR little FREEMAN is A MURDERER. Yes he did throw his life away he will get no less then life for his part in these crimes.
What do you mean he is not a "STATE RAT" even you said: Freeman is couperating with police.
Being labled a RAT in jail or prison will not be good for anyone from what I understand.
Tell me how do you know Freeman was driving Hover around? Humm, sounds like you may have been there also. Do you think that Freeman is so much of a wuss that if he wanted, he could'nt have gotten away? Oh yea he is a wanabe tuff guy, mentaly ill, 18 year old adult.(LOL)
Yes Freeman was there with Hover at his house everyday and yes he is a willing parntner in crime no matter who pulled the trigger.
Can you honestly say Who pulled the trigger? If so please let us know, and please have prove of it.
How do we know that you dont look like a Killer and whatever else you can make up. Anyone can be and look like what ever someone else thinks and makes them out to be.
Hum if Freeman girl friend knows him best did she see this comming? and why would'nt his Father know him best he lived with him right?(yes). Oh yea unless he Freeman was out with Hover and or at his house.
Look at his girlfriend a Golth chick but does that make her a bad person not a all, and if she knows that he is mentaly ill, do'es that make her any less or any more of a stable person?.
*****The facts are Freeman and Hover are in Jail for many crimes and now that the DA is doing his/her job many questions can be answered. is Freeman stuiped as you put it and or is Hover lost in a world in his mind never to come back?******
Do you think smoking crack and taking deppression pills has anything to do with any of this? HUMM I dont know but it seems that with a really bad habbit of doing crack and taking deppression pills may have caused the minds of those involed to snap.
YES I AM HIS MOTHER. I DID WRITE THAT ON THE OTHER PAGE.
"I LOVE YOU LITTLE BROTHER"
May God be with you as you journey through this nightmare.
With this being said I will not post another comment again.
"I LOVE YOU LITTLE BROTHER" I am sorry I was not there for you when you needed me the most, please forgive me.... Your Big Brother G. A. Hover,Jr.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was in all caps.
If Hover didn't do it then why would he try and kill himself? And just because Freeman went and used the ATM cards and pawned the jewelry doesn't mean that he killed someone. He just sounds greedy. And yeah, you're right. He could've gotten away. But how do you know all the circumstances of the situation? I'd like to see you put in this situation. And it sounds like YOU were there everyday with them if you know so much about them like how they do crack. How would you even know that? And how would you know anything about depression pills? I never said anything about what mental disability. And yes, I know that we cant just give excuses for kids, even if they are legally an adult. But all Hover's mother seems to be doing is backing him up like he's some great person. And that's not weed on Freeman's myspace it's hookah. Perfectly legal. Plus his myspace is blocked so all you see is smoke in a picture. And hm..wouldn't you rather have someone be a state rat then leave cases unsolved. As far as I know, Freeman helped solve other crimes that detectives did not know were committed by Hover. So at least other families are having their peace, as well.
The whole story has big missing pieces.
how so very sad for both families. People seem to overlook such big details. How can you duct tape a grown man holding a gun by yourself?? ever try to tear off a piece of duct tape with one hand? lol.Freeman was there. And why would a man go to the trouble and pain to kill, then just not reap the benefit of the money and just hand it over to someone else? Its shown to be freemans gun...if Freeman is so innocent, why in the world would he hand over his gun to hover to use to kill someone? Thats pretty stupid.Yeah...because thats not what happened. Greg didnt own a gun. People think because Freeman is only eighteen, that he's not capable of being the ring leader. Freeman has changed his story on details already.You all better dig reeeaaalllly deep for this one.Greg has a family and a good job(passing all background checks through the state)and something to live for,versus an eighteen year old drug user and dealer that thinks hes invinceable with no job.Hmmm.Freeman is rolling you all over. not saying greg is totally innocent by any means, but lets get the story straight guys!The crimes committed are horrifying. God will make sure the guilty pays for their deeds...watch and see. My love and sorrow goes to gregs family( especially his children who are very loved) and to roberta and her family. May God heal all of you from this nightmare...may God hold your hearts in His hands...
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE REPORT HOW ROBERTA IS DOING? I LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE AND CANNOT FIND OUT. I SEE THEY FINALLY ARRESTED RICKY FREEMAN. AS I SAID ALL THAT WAS INVOLVED SHOULD GET THE SAME SENTENCE AND OT BE ALLOWED TO WALK FREE. I AM SORRY FOR HIS FAMILY, GIRLFRIEND AND FRIENDS. BUT I AM SURE ROBERTA AND MANY PEOPLE FEEL SAFER WITH ALL BEHIND BARS.
"I LOVE YOU LITTLE BROTHER"
May God be with you as you journey through this nightmare
BigBrothersPain, Why are you even invoking God? I know for a fact you don't believe in Him. You have no right saying His name. You have beaten, as well as worse things, your wife and kids on numerous occasions. I'm sure if you lived in the same state as your little brother you would've been in the car with him.