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Judge Joe Bonaventure denied a motion to compel the District Attorney to use the best original version of any audio tapes of defendant statements when presenting audio evidence at a preliminary hearing or before the Clark County Grand Jury. Bonaventure indicated the motion was premature and these were issues that should be handled at the preliminary hearing.

The preliminary hearing for defendants Michael McClinton and Charles Cashmore has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 4) in Justice Court Department 9.

Defendant Charles Stewart’s attorney has filed a motion seeking the Justice Court to compel the District Attorney to use the best original version of any audio tapes of defendant statements when presenting audio evidence at a preliminary hearing or before the Clark County Grand Jury. In his motion, Robert G. Lucherini asks the court to order the District Attorney to prove an audio tape created by witness Thomas Riccio is authentic and an original copy of the audio gathered before, during and after the events that unfolded September 13, 2007 at the Palace Station Hotel.

Lucherini suggests in the motion that the District Attorney will be unable to produce an accurate copy of the tape, suggesting instead that the tape has been altered or edited.

Arguments on the motion have been scheduled for 7:30 a.m. September 28 (Friday) in Justice Court Department 9.

A Clark County District Court Jury found defendant Scott Dozier guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and robbery with the use of a deadly weapon in the death of Jeremiah Miller. Miller’s body was dismembered and his torso was found in a suitcase behind an apartment building in 2002. A penalty hearing in the case begins today (Sept. 26) in District Court Department 9. Jurors can choose to sentence Dozier to death, life in prison without the possibility of parole, or 40 years to life in prison.

The Las Vegas Township Justice Court has released the Declarations of Arrest, Warrant/Summons for the co-defendants in State v. Simpson, et. al. Personal information has been redacted in compliance with NRS 239.

Declarations of Arrest, Warrant/Summons

A District Court Jury found defendant Dushon Green guilty on 19 of 20 counts this evening in the courtroom of Judge David Wall. Green was found not guilty on a single count of sexual assault. He was found guilty on 19 other charges ranging from sexual assault with a deadly weapon to lewdness with a child under the age of 14. The jury concluded that between December 1996 and March 1998 Green raped seven female victims in a case that became known as the Flamingo Road rapist.

Green’s bail was revoked and he was remanded into the custody of the Clark County Detention Center. His sentencing was scheduled for November 5, 2007 in District Court Department 21.

A sixth defendant turned himself in during this morning’s court calendar call for State v. Simpson, et. al., in the Justice Courtroom of Judge Joe M. Bonaventure. Charles Erhlich traveled from Florida to answer to the charges outlined in an amended complaint filed in open court this morning.

Bail for Mr. Erhlich was set at $32,000. Also, Erhlich must surrender his passport and Judge Bonaventure ordered him to report in Monday-Friday to his attorney, John Moran, Jr. Erhlich was admonished not to contact any of the victims, their families, or any of the co-defendants in the case. He returns October 22 for a status check.

Also this morning, bail for defendant Charles H. Cashmore was set at $28,000, he was placed under house arrest and ordered not to have any contact with the victims, their families, or co-defendants. Cashmore’s attorney Edward Miley requested a speedy preliminary hearing date, which was set for October 4.

Amended Complaint

Charles Howard Cashmore will appear before Judge Joe M. Bonaventure tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. (Sept. 21) in Justice Court Dept. 9 at the Regional Justice Center for his alleged involvement in a robbery and kidnapping at the Palace Station.

George Chaanine entered into a plea agreement today in District Court Dept. 12 that will allow him to plead guilty to a single count in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining counts in his case. Chaanine pled guilty to Battery with Use of a Deadly Weapon Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm for repeatedly hitting Michaelina Bellamy over the head with a wine bottle. Chaanine will be sentenced by Judge Michelle Leavitt November 1, 2007.

As Mr. Simpson exited the courtroom yesterday (Sept. 19) a court employee attempted to take a picture of the defendant. The following letter of apology was sent to Mr. Simpson’s attorneys this afternoon:

Apology Letter

District Court Judge Donald Mosley sentenced Donald Schuster to Life in Prison with the possibility of parole after ten (10) years and an equal and consecutive term of Life in Prison with the possibility of parole after ten (10) years for use of a deadly weapon. In addition, Schuster was sentenced to a concurrent sentence of 35 months to 156 months. He must also pay $54,665.41 in restitution. The sentencing follows Schuster’s conviction in July of Second Degree Murder with Use of a Deadly Weapon and Battery with Use of a Deadly Weapon for the death of JonMichael Ginolous and the shooting of Nicholas Errichetto.