Not guilty plea from 1 of 2 men held in double-slaying

By Ken Ritter, Associated Press

Published Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 | 10:12 a.m.

Updated Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 | 12:13 p.m.

One of two ex-convicts jailed in the slayings of two people near downtown Las Vegas pleaded not guilty on Thursday to murder, conspiracy and other charges, while a state court judge named a lawyer to represent a co-defendant.

Marcial Manuel Casarez, 36, stood in shackles as prosecutor David Stanton told Clark County District Court Judge Michael Villani there's "a high likelihood" that Casarez will face the death penalty.

Stanton also expressed concern for the safety of witnesses in the case, and told the judge he'll file a written request for special handling of evidence.

"There is an ongoing concern about the safety of people involved in this case," Stanton said later, outside court. He acknowledged his request was unusual, but cited reports from "people on the street who know (Casarez) and his associates." Stanton declined to provide details.

Casarez pleaded not guilty to all charges, also including kidnapping and robbery, in the Nov. 16 shooting deaths of 32-year-old Jamel Colbert and 21-year-old Shelby Taylor Robinson in a car east of downtown Las Vegas.

Stanton said in court it was less likely that District Attorney Steve Wolfson and a panel of prosecutors will decide to seek death for co-defendant Sergio Ignacio Caire Davila. A decision is expected in several days.

The slayings stemmed from a dispute among several people involved in drugs and prostitution, and Casarez pulled the trigger, according to a police report in the case.

Colbert and Robinson were each shot multiple times, the Clark County coroner said.

Davila, 24, is accused of being at the slaying scene and of taking cash and cellphones from Colbert and Robinson. He faces the same charges as Casarez under a legal concept that co-defendants share responsibility in felony cases.

Both men were indicted last week by a grand jury that heard detailed testimony from witnesses including three people who said they saw or heard the fatal shooting.

The judge postponed arraignment for Davila for two weeks to let Davila meet his newly appointed lawyer. The attorney, Carl Arnold, didn't immediately respond to messages.

Casarez's lawyer, Monica Trujillo, declined Thursday to comment.

Court records show that Casarez has served at least three prison terms in Nevada since 2004 for crimes including attempted burglary, receiving stolen vehicles and methamphetamine possession for sale.

He pleaded guilty in January 2010 in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and records show he had been sought since Aug. 16 as a federal fugitive.

Davila pleaded guilty in April 2010 in Las Vegas to assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 13 months to five years in state prison. Court records note an outburst by Davila at his sentencing in June 2010.

He was sentenced in January 2014 to federal prison on a felon in possession of a firearm conviction, and records show he was released from custody last July.