Judge sets jury trials for defendants in teacher’s death

By Dave Toplikar

Thursday, March 31, 2011 | 10:31 a.m.

A Clark County district judge today set the dates for five separate jury trials for defendants accused in the robbery, beating and eventual death of Timothy VanDerbosch. VanDerbosch, an Eldorado High School physics and chemistry teacher, was attacked on Oct. 20, 2010, as he was walking to school.

Judge Jennifer Togliatti set trial dates that will run from July through April 2012. Each of the trials is expected to take about two weeks.

The two defendants facing the death penalty will go last: Saul Farvela, 19, will have his trial at 10:30 a.m. March 5, 2012, and David Rosas, 20, will have his trial at 10:30 a.m. April 9 2012.

Togliatti explained to both of them that their attorneys will need extra time to prepare their defense because of state laws regarding capital trials.

Togliatti set the trials to begin for three other defendants as follows: Daniel Carrillo, 16, at 10:30 a.m. July 25; Marcos Coronel Castrejon, 20, at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6, and Bridget Lugo, 20, at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5.

A sixth defendant, Marisol Diaz, 16, already had her trial set for 1:30 p.m. July 18 before Judge Kenneth Cory.

A grand jury indicted each of the six defendants on 24 felony counts in connection with the robbery, beating and death of VanDerbosch, as well as robberies and beatings of other victims.

The charges against the six include five counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, 10 counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, two counts of burglary while in possession of a firearm, three counts of battery with use of a deadly weapon, three counts of battery with intent to commit a crime and one count of murder with use of a deadly weapon.

All six remain in the Clark County Detention Center without bail.

VanDerbosch, 50, died Oct. 20 after he was allegedly chased, robbed, beaten into unconsciousness and run over by a truck while he was walking to Eldorado High School, where he taught chemistry and physics. He died at University Medical Center.

Police said they believe the six defendants committed a number of other robberies and beatings in the same time period.

The indictment alleges the six robbed 10 people, each time using a firearm and/or a knife. It alleges two of the victims allegedly had their vehicles stolen, one was hit in the head with a fist, two were hit with a firearm and one was stabbed in the leg with a knife.

Items allegedly taken from the victims include wallets, a briefcase, cell phones, purses, key chains, a debit card, a Social Security card, jeans, a gold chain, a phone charger, a hat and money.

The indictment also alleges VanDerbosch was robbed using a firearm and/or a knife and was hit in the head and body by the defendants’ hands and/or feet, causing him to fall into the road, where he was fatally struck hit by a vehicle.