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Effective Monday, April 30, 2007, all cases in three judicial departments (Judge Elizabeth Halverson, Judge Michael Villani, and Judge William Barker) will be reassigned.

• Judge Halverson, Department 23, will be reassigned Judge Villanis’ all civil caseload.
• Judge Barker, Department 18, will be reassigned Judge Halversons’ civil and criminal caseload (Criminal Track 7).
• Judge Villani, Department 17 will be reassigned Senior Judge Brennans’ civil and criminal caseload (Criminal Track 3).

[Editor’s Note: To arrange interviews with Heather Wilder or Raven Asay, contact Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.]

LAS VEGAS – They offer hope to young foster children with such titles as “Court Talk,” “Raven’s Rampages,” “Heather’s Hurts,” and “Why Do I Have to Take Medication?” The young authors of these booklets aimed at foster children, Heather Wilder, age 13, and Raven Asay, age 12, join CASA and the Eighth Judicial District Court for the Seventh Annual Light of Hope Ceremony on Thursday (April 19) to recognize the critical need of permanent, loving homes for child victims of abuse and neglect.

The event kicks off at 9 am, Thursday (April 19) in the atrium of the Family Court and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Ave., Las Vegas with an Agency Fair. More than 20 agencies will answer questions and provide literature about services available for children and families in the community, as well as information about how to become a foster or adoptive parent.

The Light of Hope Ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Family Court atrium. Wilder and Asay (adoptive youth) will join Michael Sausa (foster youth), to discuss their experiences and offer hope to other children. Wilder and Asay started writing to help them understand what they were going through as foster children and to help other foster children know they are not alone. Their books have been read by many foster children. Wilder recently was featured in People Magazine and will appear later this month on the CBS Morning Show. The booklets can be obtained at http://www.iseepuppy.com.

Michael (18) recently moved out of a foster home into his own apartment on an Independent Living Contract. An Independent Living Contract is a program by which the Department of Family Services (DFS) provides foster care payments directly to the child, so they can pay their own room and board and learn how to budget their own money, prior to aging out of foster care. The child must reside in an approved stable environment. Michael will graduate in June 2007 from Rancho High School in the Aerospace Program. He also works full-time.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. The week of April 15th to April 21st is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. More than 200 volunteers with the Eighth Judicial District Court’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program serve as advocates and voices in court for approximately 550 foster children annually in Clark County. Currently, there are more than 2,200 children in foster care in Clark County.

During the Light of Hope Ceremony, candles will be lit symbolizing the promise of safety and permanency to children with abusive and neglectful backgrounds. Foster children will talk about their experiences, light candles and make wishes for those who come after them. The Honorable Gerald Hardcastle, Juvenile Court Judge, and Tom Morton, Director of the Department of Family Services (DFS) will also be present to promote the importance of the community getting more involved in efforts to fight child abuse.

The community is asked to show support for all children who live with abuse or neglect by shining their car headlights during the day on April 19.

For more information about this event contact Patricia Thacker, CASA Program Manager or Shelia Parks, CASA Program Administrator at (702) 455-4306

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A twelve-member jury reached a verdict in State v. Shawn Michael Shelton this evening concluding the defendant was guilty of four out of five counts.  Shelton was found guilty of First Degree Kidnapping, Sexual Assault with a Minor under Sixteen Years of Age, Battery with Intent to Commit Sexual Assault with a Minor under Sixteen Years of Age and Use of a Minor in the Production of Pornography. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on one count of Robbery.

Bail for Shelton was immediately revoked and he was remanded into the Clark County Detention Center. Formal sentencing on the four counts will take place at 9:30 a.m. May 31, 2007 in District Court Department 12.

The trial for Shawn Shelton, accused of five charges including First Degree Kidnapping, Sexual Assualt with a Minor under Sixteen Years and Robbery, is underway today (April 11) in District Court Dept. 12.

This afternoon the 14-year-old victim took the stand and described how he was approached by the defendant who told him he was a policeman. The victim then described how he was taken to an area of the desert and was forced to perform fellatio on the defendant. The judge took a break at 1 PM and the trial resumes at 2 PM in Courtroom 14D.

Charges:

1. First Degree Kidnapping (Category A Felony - NRS 200.310, 200.320)
2. Sexual Assault with a Minor Under Sixteen Years of Age (Category A Felony - NRS 200.364, 200.366)
3. Robbery (Category B Felony - NRS 200.380)
4. Battery with Intent to Commit Sexual Assault with a Minor Under Sixteen Years of Age (Category A Felony - NRS 200.400)
5. Use of Minor in the Production of Pornography (Category B Felony - NRS 200.700, 200.710, 200.750)

Starting Tuesday (April 3) and continuing through Friday (April 6), the Las Vegas Grand Prix will impact employee and visitor travel to and from the Regional Justice Center (RJC). Casino Center, Bridger Avenue and Main Street will be closed to traffic west and north of the RJC. Click here for a traffic map and detailed bus and transportation information.

Employees and visitors traveling from the north are asked to travel Las Vegas Boulevard south to Clark Avenue. Visitors traveling from the south should approach the building by either taking Fourth Street or Las Vegas Boulevard north to Bonneville or Clark Avenues.

Friday (April 6) jurors should access the Freemont Street Experience garage by traveling Las Vegas Boulevard south to Carson Avenue and entering the garage on Carson. The Fourth Street entrance will be closed. Jurors will be allowed to park in this garage by showing their jury summons.