Man accused in chase that ended at Suncoast sentenced in other case

By Cara McCoy

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | 6:29 p.m.

Jason James Dillinger stands accused in a pursuit that kept many Las Vegans glued to their televisions as cameras followed a Toyota Scion traveling at a fast clip for about an hour until it pulled into the Suncoast casino parking garage.

Dillinger, 33, whose case related to the Jan. 26 incident is pending in Las Vegas Justice Court, had a bench warrant out for his arrest when he allegedly led police through valley streets.

The warrant was issued when he failed to appear to be sentenced for a June 27, 2009, car chase in the northwest valley.

Dillinger was sentenced Wednesday to a maximum of six years in prison on one count of stop required on signal of a police officer in connection with the June chase. The soonest he would be eligible for parole, including the time he’s already served behind bars, is two years and two months.

Two other charges – assault with a deadly weapon and possession of burglary tools – were dismissed as part of his plea agreement. The charges in the other cases are pending.

He pleaded guilty in August. According to court documents, at about 8:45 p.m. on June 27, 2009, officers with the tourist crimes unit were following up on an unrelated case in the 8200 block of Rocky Bluff Drive, which is near the intersection of Cimarron and Gowan roads. An officer in front of a home heard tires screech and saw a gray SUV traveling at a high rate of speed drive on a sidewalk, then back into driveway.

The officer then decided to conduct a traffic stop, documents indicate. The officer got into his police car, which was unmarked, and activated the lights and siren as he pulled up to the driveway.

The officer stated in a report that as he continued to pull up to the driveway, the SUV took off at a high rate of speed.

“The vehicle came right towards me. If I did not slam on my brakes to avoid a collision, the SUV would have rammed me causing serious injury to myself,” the officer said.

As the officer was attempting the traffic stop, three other officers saw what was happening and, with their badges displayed around their necks, identified themselves as police officers and yelled for the SUV -- which had its windows rolled down -- to stop.

Police say the driver ignored the officers and drove away at a high rate of speed, tires squealing. The officer followed and saw the SUV run a red light at Gowan and Cimarron, narrowly avoiding collisions with vehicles that had the right-of-way, police said.

The SUV then careened along several streets before the officer lost sight of it on Broadriver Drive.

The officer returned to the residence and spoke with a man he saw exit the vehicle before the chase ensued. The man identified the driver as his friend – Dillinger.

Police arrested Dillinger on July 10. When they searched him, they found a “punch” tool in the pocket of his shorts, which is commonly used by car thieves to gain access to a vehicle, a police report states.

He was released from custody after pleading guilty and agreed to return to court to be sentenced Jan. 20. He didn’t show up.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest and was outstanding at the time he picked up the new charges – evading a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property, auto theft, possession of burglary tools – in connection the January chase.

A report from his January arrest indicates the car appeared to have been stolen.

The report also stated he had a gun stolen from an off-duty Metro Police officer and he brandished it at a Suncoast security officer before his arrest.

He was also found to have property that was reported stolen and several magazines of ammunition, police said.

Police said they found a device commonly used to break into vehicles inside the Scion and said the key used to start the car had been shaved.

In arguing for a stiff sentence Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Nell Keenan asked District Court Judge David Wall to take into consideration the new charges Dillinger is facing.

“He engaged in another police chase, this one lasting over an hour. You may remember it -- it was on several news channels in the morning of Jan. 25, 2010, because not only was the Metro air unit there, but several news channels actually had their helicopters up there following this defendant as he drove all over town,” Keenan said.

Dillinger’s attorney, Dewayne Nobles, argued against a maximum sentence. He wanted a sentence of 18 months to six years.

“I think it’s appropriate for the crime he pled to in this case,” Nobles said, adding that 18 months was more than the minimum.

Dillinger spoke briefly to dispute some of Keenan’s argument, saying that “it was a empty neighborhood” at the time of the chase. He didn’t address allegations related to the January case. He had been advised before addressing the judge that anything he said related to that case could possibly be used against him in prosecuting it.

The attorney representing him in the January case couldn’t be reached for comment late Wednesday afternoon.

A preliminary hearing on the charges stemming from the Jan. 26 incident had been scheduled for Wednesday, but was reset for April 6.

Also charged in that case is Ashley Ann Shaheen, 27, who was a passenger in the Scion. Keenan said Shaheen on Wednesday waived her right to a preliminary hearing and will plead guilty in district court to two felonies and a gross misdemeanor. Shaheen is scheduled to appear in court March 17.

Dillinger and Shaheen were taken into custody inside an elevator at the Suncoast. Both have been in the Clark County Detention Center since their arrests.