Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Attorney: Cy Waits working to resolve charges in Las Vegas traffic stop

Waits

Christopher DeVargas

Justice of the Peace William Kephart presides over the case of Las Vegas businessman Cy Waits on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, in Las Vegas Justice Court. Waits wasn’t present during the hearing.

Updated Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 | 12:54 p.m.

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Cy Ellis Waits

Las Vegas businessman Cy Waits has apparently worked out a deal to resolve the criminal charges against him stemming from a highly publicized traffic stop last year on the Las Vegas Strip with his ex-girlfriend, Paris Hilton.

That's what his attorney, Richard Schonfeld, told a judge this morning during Waits' court date this morning in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Waits, 35, is facing charges of driving under the influence of marijuana and having marijuana in his possession Aug. 27 during a traffic stop in front of the Wynn Las Vegas.

Waits, who didn't appear in court, was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on the charges this morning before Justice of the Peace William Kephart.

However, Schonfeld told the judge the matter "has been resolved" and said there was some miscommunication and Waits didn't realize he was supposed to be there.

Schonfeld asked that the matter be carried over. Chief Deputy District Attorney L.J. O'Neale told the judge he had no objection and Kephart set the next hearing for 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Outside the courtroom, Schonfeld would not say what kind of a "resolution" has been made in the case. But Waits will be on hand, he said.

"He's going to be here Wednesday," Schonfeld said.

Waits had a relationship for about a year with Hilton, the celebrity heiress and reality TV star.

Police stopped the couple Aug. 27 in a black Cadillac Escalade after an officer reported a "vapor trail" of marijuana smoke wafting from the vehicle as they were on the Las Vegas Strip in front of the Wynn.

Waits, who was driving, failed field sobriety tests given by a motorcycle officer. Hilton told an officer she needed to go inside to use a restroom and an officer saw a bag of cocaine fall out of her handbag. Hilton initially told police the purse and cocaine were not hers, but did claim the rolling papers, $1,300 in cash and several credit cards.

She was banned from two Wynn resorts on the Strip after the arrest. Waits was dismissed from his nightclub job.

Hilton pleaded guilty in September to misdemeanor cocaine possession and obstruction charges. She's serving a year of probation.

Hilton and Waits announced publicly they had split last month.

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