Archive for December, 2007
State v. Stiles, Arraignment
Posted by Michael in Arraignments, District Court on December 20th, 2007
Arraignment for Chester Stiles has been continued until 9 a.m. Jan. 9, 2008 in front of District Court Judge Jennifer Togliatti. On that date Mr. Stiles is expected to enter a plea to charges of Lewdness with a Child under the Age of 14, Sexual Assault of a Minor under the Age of 14, and Attempt Sexual Assault with a Minor under the Age of 14.
State v. Zana, Sentencing
Posted by Michael in District Court, Sentencing on December 20th, 2007
Judge Jackie Glass sentenced former school teacher Mark Zana today (Dec. 20) to a maximum term of Life in Prison with the Possibility of Parole after 20 years for his conviction on counts of Lewdness with a Minor under the Age of 14 and Possession of Visual Presentation Depicting Sexual Conduct of an Individual under the Age of 16.
Judge Glass noted that Zana presented himself as an outstanding teacher, yet also demonstrated he has a predatory nature targeting young girls for sexual pleasure. “He put himself in positions of trust with children. He worked at gymnastics, he had pool parties, he was a teacher because he had this need to be around these children at this particular age,” said Judge Glass.
Sentencing Detail:
Count 1 - Sentence of 12 months in the Clark County Detention Center
Count 2 - Sentence of Life with Parole after 10 Years, to be served concurrent to Count 1.
Count 6 - Sentence of Life with Parole after 10 years, to be served consecutive to Counts 1 and 2.
Count 7 - Sentence of Life with Parole after 10 Years, to be served concurrent to Count 6.
Count 11 - Sentence of 12 to 36 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections, to be served consecutive to Count 7.
Count 13 - Sentence of 12 to 36 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections, to be served consecutive to Count 11.
Count 14 - Sentence of 12 to 36 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections, to be served consecutive to Count 13.
Count 15 - Sentence of 12 to 36 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections, to be served consecutive to Count 14.
Count 16 - Sentence of 12 to 36 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections, to be served consecutive to Count 15
Count 17 - Sentence of 12 to 36 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections, to be served consecutive to Count 16
State v. Mack, Briefing Schedule Hearing
Posted by Michael in District Court, High Profile, Status Check on December 4th, 2007
A briefing schedule hearing in State v. Mack has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 10 (Monday) in Courtroom A of the Second Judicial District Court in Reno. Judge Douglas Herndon will preside over this hearing, which has been called to prepare a schedule for filing briefing motions and responses in the case. Currently, no documents have been filed in Reno or Las Vegas. A Substitution of Attorney notice has been provided to all attorneys in the case and the judge, however this document has not been filed in either court. It is anticipated that motions will be filed soon in this case in Clark County. This case is a Second Judicial District Court case being heard in the Eighth Judicial District Court by reassignment through an order of the Nevada Supreme Court.
KOLO-TV will provide pool coverage for television media in this case. Contact Michael Sommermeyer if you have questions or other requests.
State v. Morrison, et. al., Initial Arraignment
Posted by Michael in Arraignments, District Court, High Profile on December 3rd, 2007
Defendants Sadia Morrison, Adam B. Jones, and Robert Reid will appear at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday (Dec. 5) in the District Court Arraignment Courtroom (Lower Level A) to enter a plea in regards to an information alleging Battery with Substantial Bodily Harm and Conspiracy to Commit Disorderly Conduct in connection with a February 2007 fight at the Minxx Gentleman’s Club. KLAS-TV will provide television/radio pool coverage of this hearing. Media seeking access should file a District Court Media Request Form. Questions: contact Michael Sommermeyer, (702) 671-4534.
District Court Delivers Court To School in Partnership With Clark County School District
Posted by Michael in District Court, Education, News Release on December 3rd, 2007
LAS VEGAS – Students in the law magnet program at Canyon Springs High School will have a precedent setting opportunity to analyze a civil trial as the Eighth Judicial District Court brings its Short Trial Program to the school beginning at 8:30 a.m. December 7, 2007 in the Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy Courtroom of the high school at 350 East Alexander Road in North Las Vegas. The visit to Canyon Springs is a partnership between the Clark County Courts and the Clark County School District.
The Short Trial Program compresses trials into a one day process that aims to complete a jury trial quickly. The parties agree to spend no more than three hours per side to present their case to the jury. The jury is smaller, with three of four jurors required to reach a verdict.
“The Short Trial concept provides the perfect educational experience for students because it takes all the elements of a complex trial and distills it down into one day,†said Judge Timothy C. Williams, who will preside over Friday’s case. “The opportunity to show young people the legal process, and give them a first-hand experience, is a wonderful teaching tool for the District Court and the Clark County School District.â€Â
More than 600 students make up the Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy, which educates high school students on the basics of the American legal system and prepares them for leadership positions in their school and community. Students graduate with an Honors Diploma after taking classes focusing on economics, policy studies, political analysis and law.
“We are ecstatic that Judge Williams has offered our students this opportunity. It will be a great benefit to the law program and all of our students. We hope to continue this partnership in the future. I hope we can make it a permanent part of the curriculum because I know of no other high school in the country that can offer this type of educational experience to its students,†said Dr. Ronan Matthew, principal at Canyon Springs High School.
At the conclusion of the trial, students will be encouraged to visit with the attorneys, judge, marshal, court clerk, law clerk, court reporter to learn more about careers in the legal system. In addition, students will be able to question the jurors about their participation in the proceeding and why they reached a specific decision.
“By taking the Short Trial Program to Canyon Springs High School we essentially are bringing an existent court to the school and providing a learning experience,†said Alternative Dispute Resolution Commissioner Chris A. Beecroft Jr., who supervises the Short Trial Program. For instance, the court intends to further this partnership with the Clark County School District to include truancy and juvenile hearings. Other Short Trial cases are expected to return to Canyon Springs in the future.
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