Bail denied for suspect in Walgreens robbery-slaying

By Ken Ritter, Associated Press

Published Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 | 8:34 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 | 3:18 p.m.

A store receipt and the discovery by police of money believed to have been stolen from a pharmacy point to the guilt of a former employee in the robbery of a Walgreens and the slaying of a clerk he used to know, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Security videos show a man witnesses recognized as Jin William Young Ackerman II, 25, in the holdups at two different stores on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, said Michelle Fleck, chief deputy district attorney prosecuting the case.

"There are four different positive identifications of this suspect," Fleck argued during a bail hearing before a Las Vegas judge who declined — at least until next week — to set bail for Ackerman.

Ackerman is due for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 3 to determine if there is enough evidence to send him to trial in state court.

Prosecutors have also notified Ackerman's lawyer that the case may go before a Clark County District Court grand jury.

"The question in this case is not now and will never be whether or not the defendant is guilty," Fleck told Justice of the Peace Joseph Sciscento during a contentious bail argument.

"The question is, what is the appropriate penalty," Fleck said.

The prosecutor said the store receipt showed Ackerman bought surgical masks and latex gloves at a Walgreens just minutes before he's accused of robbing the store while wearing the items.

Ackerman is charged with murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary with a deadly weapon. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has said the death penalty is being considered.

Ackerman plans to plead not guilty, defense attorney Tom Pitaro said.

The judge scheduled another bail hearing on Jan. 21 to hear testimony from at least one police detective handling the case.

Pitaro argued that the state has to show proof and establish a presumption that conviction is likely before a judge can order a defendant held without bail.

Ackerman is a married father of three children who has lived in Las Vegas all his life and has no prior criminal record, Pitaro said. He said his client is not a flight risk and is entitled to a reasonable bail despite the prosecutor's account of the crime.

Ackerman is accused of killing Antonino Isnit, 58, with a silencer-equipped handgun after holding another clerk at gunpoint for about an hour and looting a store safe of more than $5,000 in the pre-dawn heist Dec. 26 at a Walgreens in northwest Las Vegas.

He's also accused of robbing another pharmacy at gunpoint Dec. 24.

Ackerman sat shackled with his head bowed and face turned away from photographers during arguments about whether he'll remain at the Clark County jail pending his preliminary hearing and possible trial.

Death penalty cases in Las Vegas routinely take more than a year to reach a jury.