Woman serving prison term for stabbing Las Vegas man denied early release

By Cy Ryan

Monday, Nov. 18, 2013 | 2:11 p.m.

The Nevada Pardons Board voted 6-3 Monday to reject the plea of a Las Vegas woman serving a term of 10-25 years for the fatal stabbing of a man in April 2002.

Jamie Hein has served 6 1/2 years in prison and sought to be released rather than wait for her parole hearing in 2017. During her trial, Hein's attorneys argued that Hein, 21 at the time of the killing, feared for her life and was trying to protect her aunt Rebecca Garrison, who was in an abusive relationship with the victim, Timoth Herman.

The board, during a 90-minute session, heard pleas from the families of both Herman and Hein.

Hein's family members urged the board to grant an early release, noting that Hein has an ailment that is costing the prison $44,000 a month to treat.

But Herman's family argued that Hein did not deserve any mercy and should fill out her minimum term before appearing before the Nevada Parole Board.

Hein told the board there was no plot to kill Herman and added that she has expressed remorse to his family. She also said she has been a model prisoner and if released will continue her education.

The pardons board is composed of the governor, attorney general and the seven justices of the Nevada Supreme Court.

Dissenting from the motion to deny Hein's request were Justices Donald Cherry, James Hardesty and Mark Gibbons.

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The Pardons Board continued the case of Marcus Dixon, who was 14 years old when he shot Daryl Crittenden, 16, in the back four times in Las Vegas in 1998.

He was initially sentenced to 40 years to life. But in 2006, the Pardons Board reduced the minimum term to 15 years.

In state prison records, Dixon was listed as a member of a gang, which resulted in denial of release at his last appearance before the parole board. Parole Board Chairwoman Connie Bisbee said Dixon would have been granted parole if he wasn't listed as a gang member.

But Dixon told the Pardons Board that he never belonged to any gang. The Pardons Board learned during the hearing that there is a system in the prison to challenge the designation as a gang member, and board members told prison officials to give Dixon a chance to show he didn't belong to a gang.

The case has been continued until the board's next meeting, for which a date has not yet been set.

Dixon's parole hearing is set for May 2016, but if he shows he has not been a member of a gang, he will be given an expedited parole hearing.