Jackie Valley

Crime and Courts Reporter

Jackie has lived in northwest Indiana, South Carolina, Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio. A Cleveland girl at heart, she graduated from Kent State University, where she was the student newspaper editor. She completed a Dow Jones copy editing internship at the Virginian-Pilot in summer 2009 and a year later joined the Sun, where she covers crime and courts.

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Story Archive

Preliminary hearing starts for suspect in decades-old Las Vegas slayings: Friday, Dec. 7, 2012; A preliminary hearing began Friday for Nathan Burkett, the man accused of three decades-old Las Vegas strangling deaths, one in 1978 and the other two in 1994. Burkett, 62, has been charged with three counts of murder.
Child welfare officials knew of abuse concerns before 7-year-old's hospitalization, death: Mother, stepfather face Jan. 18 hearing on murder charges in fatal beating; Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012; A day before 7-year-old Roderick "RJ" Arrington wound up in the hospital with injuries from an alleged beating that ultimately caused his death, child welfare authorities were notified with concerns about the boy.
Driver in fatal bus stop crash pleads not guilty: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; Gary Hosey, the man accused of driving drunk into a bus stop and killing four people, pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a speedy trial during a hearing Wednesday morning.
Metro begins releasing reports into all officer-involved shootings: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; Metro Police have begun releasing reports about nonfatal officer-involved shootings, a move guided by the department’s commitment to be more transparent.
Teacher sentenced in DUI accident that caused teen to lose leg: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; The Las Vegas teacher who struck a 15-year-old boy while driving drunk in February will serve at least six years behind bars. Noel Lardeo was sentenced to serve 72 months to 180 months in prison.
Teen on motorcycle dies after crash on Green Valley Parkway: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; A 19-year-old woman riding a motorcycle died Tuesday night after colliding with a car on Green Valley Parkway, Henderson Police said. The Clark County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as Destani-Emily Maria Jorgensen, who was a Henderson resident.
Two 11-year-old boys plead guilty in cat's death: Sentence includes order to not associate with one another; Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012; Two 11-year-old boys each pleaded guilty to one county of conspiracy to commit animal cruelty in the death of a mother cat two months ago. The boys appeared Tuesday before Clark County Family Court Judge William Voy.
Man guilty of involuntary manslaughter in one-punch death: Friday, Nov. 30, 2012; A jury today found Benjamin Hawkins guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a tourist who died after Hawkins punched him at a Las Vegas casino.
Teacher says anger didn't lead to fatal punch at Las Vegas casino: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; Benjamin Hawkins, charged in the death of a man Hawkins punched at a Las Vegas casino, testified Thursday that anger played no role in his split-second decision. Instead, Hawkins told the courtroom he felt threatened by 46-year-old John Massie, whom he had exchanged words with at O’Sheas.
Trial opens for teacher in fatal punch at O'Sheas: Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012; A confrontation that began in an O’Sheas bathroom spilled onto the casino floor, leading to one punch and a man dead, witnesses recalled Tuesday, the first day of Benjamin Hawkins’ trial for involuntary manslaughter.
Judge sets $100,000 bail for woman accused of running over boyfriend: Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012; More than a dozen family members and friends filled a Las Vegas courtroom Tuesday in support of 33-year-old Sounilak Ouchlaeun, accused of fatally striking her boyfriend with a car after an argument.
She is charged with murder with a deadly weapon. Public Defender Christy Craig referenced Ouchlaeun’s supporters when she asked Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Eric A. Goodman to release Ouchlaeun on her own recognizance.
Calling all Santas: Jump-start holiday shopping with this gift guide: Friday, Nov. 23, 2012; Break out your running shoes. The most wonderful — or most frenzied and frustrating — time of the year is upon us: holiday shopping season. Don't panic yet. Take a look at expected popular gifts, giving your holiday shopping list a jumpstart.
Public Defender's Office raises potential conflicts in representing driver in bus stop fatalities: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012; The Clark County Public Defender's Office will spend two more weeks determining if it has a conflict of interest representing Gary Hosey Jr., the man accused of driving drunk into a Las Vegas bus stop and killing four people.
Metro terrorism expert applies lessons learned at international conference to Las Vegas: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012; Since tensions flared more than a week ago between Israelis and Palestinians, Metro Police Officer Braden Schrag has frequently checked the news. It’s the first thing he does when he wakes up, driven by what he calls a “personal connection” to the country after visiting Israel in September for an international counter-terrorism conference.
McCarran's indoor smoking areas criticized in CDC report: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012; McCarran International Airport may be most known for its plethora of slot machines, but it’s also one of five large airports in the United States that allows smoking. A federal report has criticized those airports for secondhand smoke.
Convenience store owner pleads guilty to dealing stolen cigarettes: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012; The owner of a North Las Vegas convenience store, which in July was the site of a multi-agency law enforcement sting, has pleaded guilty to purchasing thousands of contraband cigarettes, Nevada’s U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden announced Tuesday.
Live-in girlfriend runs over, kills boyfriend after dispute, police say: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012; A 33-year-old Las Vegas woman is in jail, accused of running her car over her boyfriend and killing him in a dispute Monday night in Spring Valley.
Man suspected of DUI critically injured in crash, police say: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012; A suspected drunken driver suffered critical injuries after crashing a sport utility vehicle early Tuesday morning in the northwest valley, Metro Police said.
Union mostly satisfied with Justice Department report on Metro's use-of-force policy: Monday, Nov. 19, 2012; The head of the union representing Metro Police officers says he is in near-unanimous agreement with a newly released Justice Department report looking at the use of force within the department.
Henderson woman accused of killing boyfriend pleads guilty: Friday, Nov. 16, 2012; The Henderson woman who claimed self-defense after allegedly strangling her boyfriend in May has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge.
Justice Department offers 40 recommendations to reduce Metro officer-involved slayings: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012; Metro Police did not regularly analyze its use-of-force incidents, resulting in inadequacies in officer training and overall accountability, according to a 154-page report released Thursday morning by the Justice Department. The report, eight months in the making by Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, includes 35 findings and 40 subsequent recommendations, which Justice Department officials say will reduce officer-involved shootings and — if Metro institutes those recommendations. The report findings were released in a news conference at Metro headquarters.
Metro: Prescription drug abuse leading to more heroin use — and deaths – in valley: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012; The mirror told Jeff Thompson, then 18 years old, all he needed to know: He saw stick-like arms and exhausted eyes, a young body on a downward spiral. Consider it the climax in Thompson’s young life story, which includes marijuana use by age 12, prescription pills two years later and heroin by 16 or 17. He can’t quite remember. “I was so tired of getting high just so I could act normal,” said Thompson, now 23. Fearful of a federal case against him, Thompson checked into rehab July 10, 2007, weighing only 110 pounds despite his 5-foot-11-inch frame. He’s been sober ever since.
Justice Department to release report on Metro Police's use-of-force policies: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012; The U.S. Department of Justice is poised to release its report about Metro Police’s use-of-force policies and practices, culminating an eight-month review of the department. Bernard Melekian, director of the Justice Department’s COPS Office, will deliver the findings and recommendations at a news conference Thursday morning.
Arraignment delayed for driver in bus stop fatalities: Court to determine whether defendant will get public defender; Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012; The arraignment for Gary Hosey Jr., the man accused of driving drunk into a Las Vegas bus stop and killing four people, was delayed Wednesday for a second time.
Court hearing for youths charged in kittens' deaths delayed: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012; A hearing in Clark County Family Court for two 11-year-olds accused of causing the death of six newborn kittens last month was delayed Tuesday.
Judge to notorious Las Vegas pimp: Blame yourself: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012; Convicted pimp Ocean Fleming condemned his hired attorney and called the prosecution “malicious and overaggressive” during his bid Tuesday morning for a more lenient sentence. His last-minute argument didn’t work, though. Clark County District Judge Michael Villani sentenced Fleming to life in prison with the possibility of parole after five years for first-degree kidnapping, one of 23 counts a jury convicted him of in August.
Man shot by police released from hospital, taken to jail: Friday, Nov. 9, 2012; A man shot by police after he reportedly pointed a gun at them while trying to break into a car has left the hospital and been taken to jail, where he awaits a December arraignment.
Modified sentence will allow former drug prosecutor to apply for substance-abuse program: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012; A Clark County judge agreed to modify a sentence for David Schubert, a former drug prosecutor convicted of possessing cocaine, granting him the opportunity to apply to participate in a substance abuse program.
DUI driver who killed trick-or-treater sentenced to 20 years in prison: Monday, Nov. 5, 2012; Justin Caramanica, 42, hit and killed 12-year-old Faith Love while she was trick-or-treating more than a year ago near Sandstone Bluffs and Wesley Lake Place, a residential area near Sahara Avenue and Hualapai Way.
Mother arrested in year-old son's death 19 months ago: Friday, Nov. 2, 2012; A woman whose 1-year-old son died more than a year ago has been arrested in connection with his death, Metro Police said Friday. Estegenet Welday, 39, was arrested Thursday at Metro Police headquarters.
Prospect of harsher sentences is on the horizon for Las Vegas pimps: Friday, Nov. 2, 2012; Ocean Fleming knows a thing or two about control. It’s how he made his living, pimping out at least four young women and raking in profits that may have topped several million dollars. That world has finally crashed.
Sex trafficking of children: Las Vegas' deep, dark secret: Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012; It wasn’t a phone call she wanted, nor ever anticipated, but when Andrea Swanson realized she had not received a call for help, she broke down in tears. It was June 2010, and Swanson’s youngest daughter, Mary, then 18 years old, sat in the Clark County Detention Center.
Hearing postponed in case involving fatal accident at bus stop: Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012; An arraignment for Gary Hosey Jr., accused of drunken driving in an accident that killed four people standing at a Las Vegas bus stop, was postponed two weeks. The hearing was scheduled Wednesday afternoon in Clark County District Court's Arraignment Courtroom, a setting designed to hear many arraignments to speed up the judicial process. Calling it a "unique case," Hosey's attorney, Dayvid Figler, asked for the arraignment to be deferred to a District Court trial setting.
Veteran county jurist allegedly used courthouse as setting for criminal conduct: Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012; A Clark County district judge is among six people charged in an investment fraud scheme that allegedly bilked victims of more than $3 million, Nevada’s U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden announced Wednesday.
Grand jury returns indictments in Henderson kidnapping case: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012; A Clark County grand jury this week indicted the four suspects accused of kidnapping a 17-year-old Henderson girl in September and holding her for ransom.
Murder charge reduced to voluntary manslaughter against Henderson woman who admitted killing boyfriend: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012; A murder charge against 36-year-old Tammy Lucero — the Henderson woman who showed up at a hospital in May to report she killed her boyfriend — has been reduced to voluntary manslaughter.
Joint law enforcement efforts take aim at valley's top criminals, gun crimes: Friday, Oct. 19, 2012; Project Safe Neighborhood is one of two law enforcement groups working behind the scenes to stem the amount of violent crime in the Las Vegas Valley. The other, an initiative led by Sheriff Douglas Gillespie called Priorities and Prosecutions, seeks to identify the valley’s most prolific criminals. At Project Safe Neighborhood meetings, representatives from local police agencies, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives gather to dissect gun- and gang-related cases.
After decision on Stanley Gibson case, DA Wolfson explains grand-jury process: Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012; The grand jury process is shrouded in secrecy. Aside from the jurors, only a few people are allowed to enter the proceeding. It was thrust into the spotlight when Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson was sending a deadly officer-involved shooting case to a grand jury.
Wildlife habitat's camera caught 3 men chasing exotic bird prior to decapitation: Two Cal law students face February court date for incident; third man unknown; Monday, Oct. 15, 2012; A 14-year-old exotic bird named Turk ran through its manmade home Friday morning at the Flamingo hotel's Wildlife Habitat, seemingly scurrying from three males on its trail.
Firefighter, alleged hitman make first court appearance in cocktail waitress' slaying: Monday, Oct. 15, 2012; The Las Vegas firefighter accused of hiring a homeless man to kill his wife appeared Monday morning in Las Vegas Justice Court with his alleged co-conspirator.
Taking police shooting case to grand jury a mistake, sheriff says in video: Metro releases video message from Gillespie regarding Stanley Gibson case; Friday, Oct. 12, 2012; Metro Police, under pressure from media outlets, have released a video message from Sheriff Douglas Gillespie detailing to Metro employees his objection to a Clark County grand jury review of a deadly officer-involved shooting.
Homebuilder faces prison time after conviction on mortgage fraud charges: Friday, Oct. 12, 2012; A federal jury convicted a Las Vegas homebuilder of mortgage fraud crimes at the conclusion of his 12-day trial, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden announced.
Dirty money: A look at notable casino scams: Friday, Oct. 12, 2012; As the old saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” In Las Vegas and other gambling hubs, that certainly holds true when it comes to cheating. Some swindles have been successful; others failed miserably. But it doesn’t keep people from trying.
Homeless man carried out contract killing for Las Vegas firefighter, police say: Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012; A Las Vegas firefighter paid a homeless man to kill his estranged wife, then tried to commit suicide when suspicion turned toward him, according to an arrest report released Thursday.
Agencies collaborate to bring improvements to rundown area: Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012; If it weren’t for the diaper-clad toddler peeking through an upstairs window, the four-unit building would have seemed abandoned. The downstairs apartments were haphazardly boarded, lighting fixtures were broken, debris littered the ground and outdoor fire extinguishers were missing.
Husband, former neighbor arrested in woman's slaying: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012; Police have arrested the estranged husband and his former neighbor in last month's slaying of a woman in her Summerlin apartment. Officials announced the arrests of George Tiaffay, 40, and Noel Stevens, 37, in the death of Shauna Tiaffay, 46.
Diversion court's 'soft, cuddly approach' attempts to keep teens from lives as hardened criminals: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012; It’s shortly after 3 p.m. on a Wednesday in courtroom 15 at Clark County Family Court. The public seating is filling up as Judge Stephen Compan, wearing a blue robe, enters. He welcomes those seated and issues one request: Please talk nicely to the kids. It’s a statement not uttered often in a courtroom setting, but this room is different. Despite its name — diversion court — this year-old program is not really a true courtroom.
House fire turns out to be grass fire: Firefighters responding to call find possible marijuana grow house; Friday, Oct. 5, 2012; A house fire Friday morning west of downtown Las Vegas tipped authorities off to a possible marijuana grow house operation, Metro Police said. A neighbor reported smoke coming from a one-story wood frame house.
Court hearing in decades-old Las Vegas slayings delayed until December: Friday, Oct. 5, 2012; A preliminary hearing Friday morning for Nathaniel Burkett, 62, the man accused of killing two Las Vegas women decades ago, was continued until Dec. 7 in Las Vegas Justice Court.
Trafficking in meth nets federal prison sentence for Las Vegas man: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012; A 26-year-old man who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Las Vegas and Montana will spend two decades in federal prison, officials said. Howard Jay Bonifant, who lived in Las Vegas, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release, a $50,000 fine and a $100 special assessment fee.