Vegas news briefs

ROBBER CONVICTED -- John Louis Buckner, 45, is facing a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole after being convicted in federal court of robbing the Pioneer Citizen's Bank in Henderson last November. The jury returned with guilty verdicts Wednesday after Buckner's three-day trial on charges of conspiracy, armed bank robbery, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm. The federal indictment alleged that Buckner and co-defendant Brian Woods, 36, were wearing ski masks when they burst into the bank armed with a .45-caliber semiautomatic gun and a simulated rifle, ordered all employees and customers to the floor and stole $345,000. The weapons and money were recovered when Woods and Buckner were arrested at their apartment at 1200 Torrey Pines Drive. Buckner is the second defendant to have been charged in Nevada under the strict federal "three strikes" law, which authorities applied based upon his multiple prior robbery convictions. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6. Woods, convicted in a separate trial July 9, will be sentenced Oct. 23.

GUILTY PLEA -- A 24-year-old woman captured in June in Beloit, Kansas, on a murder warrant for her role in the death of a man found in a Las Vegas motel has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Crystal Marie Wise will be sentenced Oct. 8 on the charge that could puther in prison for up to six years. Her boyfriend, Jimie Slaughter, already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the beating death of Timothy Odom, 30, of Las Vegas, whose body was found March 29 by Las Vegas police. Slaughter, 25, of Newton, Kansas, will be sentenced Sept. 17 to either a life sentence or 50 years.

FATAL ACCIDENT -- A 29-year-old Las Vegas driver is believed to have run a red light Wednesday when he struck and killed another motorist in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Mojave, Metro Police said. Pradub McHugh, 57, of Las Vegas died at the 10:10 a.m. accident. No charges have been filed in connection with the collision pending further investigation. McHugh had been southbound on Mojave and pulled into the intersection when the red traffic light turned green, permitting him to turn left onto Tropicana, when his 1990 Oldsmobile 2S was struck on its driver's side by a 1998 Ford 4S. Police said the driver of the Ford, who was westbound on Tropicana, failed to stop for a red light when he entered the intersection.

FATAL DUI PLEA -- A Las Vegas man whose drunken driving accident killed a 63-year-old woman and her 5-year-old grandson has pleaded guilty to two DUI counts rather than stand trial. Guillermo Fellove will face a maximum sentence of 16 to 40 years when he is sentenced Sept. 17 by District Judge Joseph Bonaventure. Probation is not an option under Nevada law. In addition to drunken driving, Fellove, 53, had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving and being under the influence of cocaine, but those counts are being dismissed as part of Thursday's plea bargain. Metro Police said they were tailing Fellove's car on May 13 when it sped through a school zone on South Maryland Parkway in front of Bishop Gorman High School, disregarded a red light at Oakey Boulevard and plowed into a car carrying the victims. Hilda Aarenau was killed instantly and her grandson, Aviezer Aarenau, died a short time later at University Medical Center. Both were wearing seat belts. Fellove, who was indicted by a Clark County grand jury on June 3, has been in jail since the incident on $7 million bail.

POLICE RECRUITS -- A total of 30 recruits graduated today from the Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy. Ceremonies were held in the auditorium of the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, at Clark Avenue and Ninth Street. The recruits successfully completed 20 weeks of academic and physical training and next will undergo 18 weeks of field training before assuming their jobs with the city of Las Vegas Deputy Marshals and police departments in Henderson, Mesquite, North Las Vegas and Clark County School Police.

BACK TO SCHOOL -- Children and parents will have a chance Saturday to get prepared for the coming school year as the Belz Factory Outlet World celebrates "back-to-school" season. The celebration takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature live entertainment including storytelling and rock and country music. Also on hand will be the Clark County Health Department, which will offer free immunization for students preschool through college. A free ear and hearing check will be made available from the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Nevada. Nevada Child Seekers will provide free fingerprints for children and photographs for a nominal fee. The Las Vegas Public Library will offer library cards and information. Representatives from Clark County schools will answer questions about such concerns as transportation, zoning, and the school building program. Several community and educational groups and agencies will visit, including Metro Police, the Clark County Fire Department, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, UNLV, and the Community College of Southern Nevada. Belz Factory Outlet World is on Las Vegas Boulevard South, best accessed by taking the Blue Diamond Road exit off Interstate 15.

ACTOR APPEARS -- The actor who plays Mr. McFeely, a long-time character on the children's television program, "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood," will greet fans from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Galleria at Sunset Mall in Henderson. David Newell, who made the phrase "Speedy delivery" popular on the respected PBS series will give special performances at 1:30 and 3 p.m. He will appear at the KLVX-TV Channel 10 booth in the St. Rose Dominican Family Health Fair at the mall. Newell, who has been with Mister Rogers since 1967, is also the director for public relations for Family Communications, which produces the series. Channel 10, local public television station, will distribute newsletters from Mister Rogers titled, "What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel?" and "A Smart Parents Guide to Kids' TV."

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