Bethany Barnes

Story Archive

Defense attorney uses mandated legislative study in bid to toss capital charges against four clients
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013
Several alleged killers’ lives could be spared if Las Vegas judges rule in favor of defense requests to drop the prosecution’s bid for the death penalty. The motions come in light of the Nevada Legislature's approval of a bill that calls for an audit of the state death penalty.
Man suspected of upskirt photography on Strip headed to trial
Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013
After 11 months in limbo, being begrudgingly put on house arrest and a brief stint in jail, a Las Vegas man now has a date in court on charges he tried to take upskirt photos of women on the Strip.
Police investigate shooting at Owens Avenue parking lot
Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013
Police responded around 9:33 a.m., and a victim was taken to University Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Bounty hunters on wrong side of law indicted for kidnapping, impersonating police
Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013
Two bounty hunters were indicted today on charges they posed as police officers and robbed two dancers during what the bounty hunters said was an attempt to corner a pimp who owed bond money.
Hearing rescheduled for suspect in Explorer's death
Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013
The preliminary hearing for the man accused of fleeing the scene of the crash that killed a young Metro Police volunteer has been rescheduled.
State bar association president courting votes for 2014 ballot question
Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013
Alan Lefebvre, elected in July as the 2013-14 president of the State Bar of Nevada, has a lot of work on his plate — and not just in his role as a civil attorney with at Kolesar & Leatham in Las Vegas.
Is Las Vegas courthouse attire appropriate? You be the judge
Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013
Pajamas, T-shirts, flip-flops: Welcome to the Clark County Regional Justice Center, where Las Vegas' anything-goes attitude is reflected in the defendants' choice of clothing. It can be baffling for judges when a defendant doesn’t seem to consider that when prison time is on the table, it might be a good time to dress up. As defense attorneys routinely advise their clients, wearing a professional set of clothes is a way to show respect for the court and make a favorable impression on a judge.
Man arrested 11 months ago sits in jail, still awaiting charges
Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013
Jonas Maxwell was arrested 11 months ago for a crime he has yet to be charged with, allegedly taking photos up women's skirts. Today he is being held without bail.
Driver thrown from car in rollover crash on I-15 near Sloan
Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013
Heavy rain appears to have contributed to an Interstate 15 rollover crash Sunday that caused a man driving north to be ejected over the wall and into a southbound lane.
Flash flood warning in effect for southern, eastern parts of valley
Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013
About 3:50 p.m., the weather service said the heaviest rain was falling in southeast Las Vegas between interstates 15 and 515. Heavy rain was falling in parts of Henderson, as well.
Protesters take to the streets, chalk in hand, after arrests of activists
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013
Armed with dollar-store brooms and children’s chalk, Las Vegas activists gathered outside of Metro Police headquarters to prove a point: It doesn’t have to cost $1,550 to clean up sidewalk chalk.
Ex-Henderson loan officer pleads guilty in investment scam
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013
A former mortgage loan officer from Henderson pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to defrauding more than 30 people out of $1 million by roping them into an investment scam.
Coolio tells judge he's hired lawyer for domestic abuse case — but rapper can't say who
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013
It appears Coolio won’t be representing himself in a domestic violence case, though it is still unclear whom his attorney will be.
Bail set at $320,000 for woman who hit eight people leaving church
Monday, Aug. 12, 2013
A North Las Vegas judge set bail at $320,000 today for the 18-year-old woman accused of fleeing after hitting eight pedestrians leaving a church service.
Couple face federal charges over alleged sex on plane
Monday, Aug. 12, 2013
A couple is facing federal indecency charges after being accused of engaging in sexual acts during an Allegiant Air flight from Medford, Ore., to Las Vegas, according to court documents.
Lawsuit raises civil rights allegations against Metro in response to 2011 injury accident
Friday, Aug. 9, 2013
The complaint in federal court alleges the Metro officers became angry and didn’t bring an interpreter, take witness statements, check driving records, file any kind of report or allow those involved to exchange information after an accident injured a 4-year-old girl from a Spanish-speaking family.
Man sentenced for biting the lip off a woman for second time
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013
It wasn’t the first time Roberto Carlos Flores had bitten off the lip of someone he was in a relationship with, but in court Wednesday he said he wanted it to be the last.
Captured on camera: Men point to video as proof of misconduct by Metro Police
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013
Three men who claim they were the victims of police misconduct on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas are pointing to a video recording as evidence. The YouTube video, posted under the title “New Years 2013 Las Vegas Police Brutality,” could play in a key role in their court cases.
Even Southern Nevada can't escape the destructive force of a sharknado
Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013
As the lights dimmed for Friday's midnight screening of "Sharknado," a SyFy channel movie that hit theaters for one night, the audience was told a gag reel was in store if we survived the shark-filled tornadoes headed our way.
Man hit by bus is identified; coroner rules death a suicide
Friday, Aug. 2, 2013
A 53-year-old Las Vegas man died Friday morning after walking into the path of an oncoming public bus, Metro Police said.
Lawsuit over unpaid overtime may become class action for UMC's hourly workforce
Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013
University Medical Center faces the prospect of defending itself in a class-action lawsuit over allegations of unpaid overtime and other work-related issues potentially involving thousands of hourly employees.
3 people indicted in man’s beating death, robbery
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Three people were indicted today in the death of a man prosecutors allege was beaten for two to three days and robbed before his bound body was discovered in the northeast Las Vegas valley.
Las Vegas businessman charged with bilking investors now accused of tax evasion
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
A Las Vegas businessman accused of swindling investors out of millions to pay gambling debts was charged with tax evasion in a new indictment on Tuesday.
Community celebrates life, mourns loss of Metro officer
Monday, July 29, 2013
A life filled with dedication, discipline and a devotion to others was celebrated today in moving ceremonies that mourned the death of a Metro Police officer.
Decorated former Metro officer pleads guilty in DUI death
Plea agreement proposed in separate grand larceny case involving onetime cop
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
A former Metro Police officer was sentenced today in Clark County District Court for a DUI wreck in April that killed an elementary school teacher. In a deal with prosecutors, Michael McNamee, 42, pleaded guilty to a felony count of driving under the influence and causing death.
Grand jury indicts four on heroin-trafficking charges
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Heroin, which is estimated to have a street value of $100 per gram, appears to be making a comeback, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Tina Sedlock. The drug was recently found to have contributed to the death of ‘Glee’ actor Cory Monteith, 31, who overdosed on heroin and alcohol earlier this month in Canada.
Suspect in Chinatown robberies pleads innocent to charges
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
he man charged with robbing a series of homes over a four-month span pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Clark County District Court. Quincy Taylor, 25, who is also accused in a separate homicide case, faces 10 felony charges for a string of violent thefts from December 2012 to March from homes in the Chinatown area.
Former All-Pro running back reaches plea deal in domestic violence case
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Former NFL running back Larry Johnson pleaded no contest today to misdemeanor domestic violence assault and battery charges in an encounter last year at a Las Vegas Strip resort with a former girlfriend.
When politics come into alleged rape case against sergeant, DA says, 'The Saudi government isn’t on trial'
Monday, July 22, 2013
Politics were at play during a Clark County District Court hearing to reassess bail and decide if witnesses in Saudi Arabia would be allowed to testify via video conference during the trial of the Saudi air force sergeant charged with raping a teenage boy on New Year’s Eve.
Man also accused of murder indicted for Chinatown robberies
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
A Clark County grand jury indicted a murder suspect on Wednesday for a series of Chinatown robberies.
Cantor Fitzgerald accused of shifting assets to boost Nevada gaming business
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald is accused of sneaking technology out of a subsidiary to beef up its Nevada gaming business, according to a recently unsealed lawsuit. Refco Inc., a bankrupt futures brokerage, alleged in a March lawsuit that Cantor Fitzgerald secretly gutted its subsidiary Cantor Index Holdings and funneled technology from it into its parent company’s Nevada operations.
Rapper Coolio, unwilling to pay to defend 'bogus' charge, may represent himself in domestic violence case
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Coolio’s attempts at being frugal are stalling his domestic violence court case. The 49-year-old rapper, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., appeared Tuesday in Las Vegas Township Justice Court for a status check to confirm that he’d hired a lawyer.
December murder trial for Strip shooting suspect to follow September rape trial
Monday, July 15, 2013
A trial date has been set for the man accused in a shooting and car crash on the Las Vegas Strip that left three people dead.
Commercial real estate, intellectual property seen as the new frontiers in Las Vegas law
Monday, July 15, 2013
Las Vegas’ most lucrative areas of law have fluctuated over time. With the market showing signs of renewed vigor — new projects are popping up on the Strip and Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh is working hard to revitalize downtown, in large part by funding technology startups — it’s likely Nevada’s legal landscape will see another shift.
Where do UNLV's law students land jobs? Closer than you think
Monday, July 15, 2013
Students at UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law know they are heading into a tough job market. But most land work, and the vast majority stay in Nevada.
Four indicted on drug-trafficking charges
Friday, July 12, 2013
A Clark County grand jury indicted four men on Friday on charges of drug trafficking.
Man who allegedly robbed, pistol-whipped elderly woman will face death penalty
Friday, July 12, 2013
The 21-year-old ex-convict accused of robbing, pistol-whipping and fatally shooting a 75-year-old woman will face the death penalty in his District Court trial.
Constitutional scholars take notice of lawsuit against Henderson Police citing rare Third Amendment complaint
Thursday, July 11, 2013
A lawsuit accusing Henderson Police of violating a family’s Third Amendment rights is rooted in one of the grievances Colonial Americans harbored against the Red Coats. And while the case, filed last week, has piqued the interest of legal scholars nationwide, a constitutional law professor at UNLV isn’t sure the litigation will play out in favor of the Mitchell family of Henderson.
Fire all around him, man won't leave his Mount Charleston cabin
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Rodney Giles’ entire life is perilously nestled on Mount Charleston. Flames from a raging wildfire threaten to lick at his door daily. He's one of two people who didn't heed the mandatory evacuation that went into place on Independence Day. Giles, 63, isn’t leaving until those flames actually come knocking because if his cabin burns he’ll have nothing.
Six structures burn in Mount Charleston wildfire
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
The Mount Charleston wildfire burned six structures Tuesday night in Prospect Ranch as the fire continued its path of destruction. After charring nearly 40 square miles of the mountain, the fire reached its first buildings in the Harris Springs area, burning one commercial building and five other structures, officials said.
For Mount Charleston evacuees, some answers about the nation's top-priority wildfire
Monday, July 8, 2013
Mount Charleston residents flooded into a town hall-style meeting Sunday hungry for information about the nation’s top-priority wildfire, which has chewed through 14,458 acres and threatens more than 500 structures. Since a lightning strike set the mountain ablaze on July 1 and 520 residents were told on July 4 they should evacuate their homes on the mountain, rumors have been spreading almost as fast as the fire.
Mount Charleston called nation's top wildfire priority; blaze is 15 percent contained
Thursday, July 4, 2013
The cost of fighting the fire that is threatening more than 500 structures on Mount Charleston has grown to $2.4 million, but officials indicated Sunday the effort was making headway. Officials with the Great Basin Incident Management team, which is directing firefighting efforts on Mount Charleston, said the fire grew by just 50 acres -- from 14,108 acres earlier in the day to 14,158 acres late Sunday afternoon.
Trial in 'Fantasy' dancer's death, dismemberment rescheduled after expert witness deemed unavailable
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The trial for the man accused of killing Luxor dancer Debora Flores Narvaez in 2010 and dismembering her body has been postponed for a fourth time.
Man pleads not guilty in slaying of 75-year-old woman
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Bayzle Morgan, 21, accused of cornering a 75-year-old woman in her bathroom and shooting her during a robbery, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges.
Grand jury indicts 21-year-old in slaying, robbery of elderly Las Vegas woman
Friday, June 28, 2013
A Clark County grand jury this week indicted Bayzle Morgan, 21, in the May slaying of a 75-year-old Las Vegas woman.
Jury orders punitive damages in liquor distributors' battle over Las Vegas turf
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The Nevada wing of Southern Wine & Spirits of America should receive $1.078 million in punitive damages from a Southern California liquor distributor that infringed on its territory.
Lawsuit seeks $6 million from Metro, former officer in groping cases
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Two women who reported being groped by a now-former Metro Police officer are suing him and the department for more than $6 million.
Stripper charged with DUI in fatal crash pleads not guilty
Monday, June 24, 2013
A December trial is scheduled for the dancer accused of being under the influence of alcohol and marijuana in March when her vehicle was involved in a collision that killed the father of a 2-year-old.
Ruvo's Southern Wine prevails in lengthy legal fight over wine sales
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Larry Ruvo has something to toast to. His decade-long legal crusade is coming to a close in his favor.
Detective at fact-finding review: Police tried to negotiate with man they eventually killed
Friday, June 14, 2013
A fact-finding review gave the public more insight into the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Justin Hoey, a Las Vegas man shot by Henderson police.