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Charles H. Cashmore waived his right to a preliminary hearing this morning before Judge Joe M. Bonaventure and agreed to be bound over to District Court for arraignment at 9 a.m. on Oct. 23 in the Arraignment Court. District Attorney David Roger indicated that Cashmore would be charged with a single count of Accessory to Robbery and had agreed to testify truthfully in future hearings. Cashmore’s attorney Edward Miley concurred with Mr. Roger.

Cashmore will next appear before Hearing Master Kevin Williams where an amended complaint will be filed in open court. Williams could set a trial date or a status check to be heard before Judge Jackie Glass.

This morning defendants Nicholas Navarrette and Geoffrey L. Grove entered pleas of not guilty on 11 charges in connection with the murder of Shpresa Hamzaj on September 7, 2007. Navarrette and Grove allegedly kidnapped and murdered Hamzaj by choking her and then shooting her twice before dumping her body in the desert. After the alleged murder the two defendants allegedly stole both of Hamzaj’s cars, 13 firearms and three credit cards.

Navarrette and Grove have been charged with 27 counts, including conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary while in possession of a firearm, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, first degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, murder with use of a deadly weapon, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, fraudulent use of credit or debit card, possession of credit or debit card without cardholder’s consent, and possession of firearm by prohibited person.

A trial date of February 25, 2008 was scheduled for both defendants.

This morning in the District Arraignment Court former Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs-McDonald pleaded not guilty to all four felony charges against her, including filing false documents and perjury stemming from her 2006 re-election campaign. Boggs-McDonald confirmed that she will be represented by attorney Gabriel Grasso when her case returns for trial February 25, 2008 in District Court Department 1. A status check was scheduled for October 10, 2007 to allow Judge Ken Cory to confirm the trial date set by the arraignment master.

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

Michael McClinton appeared in court this morning before Judge Joe M. Bonaventure and was formally arraigned on charges of conspiracy, coercion, assault, robbery, burglary, and kidnapping. Judge Bonaventure set bail at $32,000 and required McClinton to surrender his passport and concealed weapon permit. In addition, McClinton was admonished not to contact any co-defendants or victims in the case. McClinton’s attorney William B. Terry asked for a speedy preliminary hearing, which was set for October 4, 2007 in Justice Court Dept. 9.

A Clark County Grand Jury has indicted Steven Zegrean on 52 counts, including 17 counts of attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, for allegedly firing a weapon into a crowd July 5, 2007 at the New York-New York casino. Zegrean will be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 20 in the District Court’s Arraignment Court.

Richard Martino and Brandi Reeves entered pleas of not guilty this afternoon in the District Arraignment Court in response to charges of Murder and Second Degree Murder by child abuse in connection with the death of 2-year-old Zander Martino. Richard Martino has been charged with Murder, while Reeves has been charged with Second Degree Murder. The Information filed in the court accuses Martino of “beating and/or kicking [Zander Martino] in the stomach with his fists and/or feet and/or with a hammer or other unknown object,” which resulted in the child’s death. Reeves is accused of failing to protect Zander from injuries inflicted by his father or to obtain medical care for the child.

Both defendants indicated they wished to proceed with a speedy trial and a trial date of Oct. 29, 2007 was set by Hearing Master Kevin Williams. Trial will take place in District Court Department 1, Judge Ken Cory.

At this morning’s arraignment, District Court Hearing Master Kevin Williams denied a request by Lynette Boggs-McDonald to obtain representation from the Clark County Public Defender. Williams gave Boggs-McDonald until Oct. 3 to find alternative counsel.

Boggs-McDonald requested the services of the Public Defender by disclosing her finances and indicating an inability to hire an attorney. After reviewing her application, Williams indicated that Boggs-McDonald did not qualify as indigent. The case returns to the arraignment court at 9 a.m. on Oct. 3 when Boggs-McDonald is expected to enter a plea. The former Clark County Commissioner is charged with four counts consisting of two counts of Offering False Instrument for Filing or Record and two counts of Perjury.

Defendants Richard Martino and Brandi Reeves, accused of murder in the death of 3-year-old Zander Martino, were bound over for trial today by Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle. Reeves faces a charge of Second Degree Murder, while Martino faces a charge of Murder by Child Abuse. Both defendants will be arraigned in the District Court at 1:30 p.m. on September 10, 2007 in the Arraignment Court located on the lower level of the Regional Justice Center.

This morning the Rev. George Chaanine told Criminal Hearing Master Kevin Williams he was not guilty of sexually assaulting a female vocalist in January. Chaanine was arrested in Arizona after an alleged assault January 26, 2007 at at Our Lady of Las Vegas, a southern Nevada Catholic parish office. He has been charged with seven felony counts including attempted murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and battery. Chaanine next appears at 9:15 a.m. Thursday (March 22) before District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt to seek bail and to schedule a trial.