High court upholds conviction of LV man

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Thursday upheld the attempted murder and arson convictions of a Las Vegas man who set a house on fire, apparently because he was angry his girlfriend had other boyfriends.

William S. Manciano was sentenced from 10 years to 46 years in prison on his conviction of one count of first-degree arson, three counts of attempted murder and one count of maiming a cat.

The court rejected arguments that there was insufficient evidence to convict Manciano of setting fire to the home of John and Crystal Manley, whose daughter also lived at the house on Tighe Way in October 1996. Manciano also lived at the home with the daughter, Heather Workman.

John Manley testified Manciano was "upset and aggravated" because Workman was talking to another boy outside the house before the fire.

A 13-year-old neighbor told authorities she saw Manciano in front of the Manley house, dressed only in polka dotted boxer shorts in the early morning hours of Oct. 5. She said Manciano was dunking two of the Manley's cats into a bucket of liquid. She also saw him holding a lighter close to a gas can while handling the cats.

A fire broke out later and neighbors awoke the Manleys and their daughter. Manciano came out of the house fully dressed carrying two bags. No one was injured, but several days after the fire, one of the cats was found suffering from severe burns, the court said.

Defense lawyers contended nobody saw Manciano start any fire and there was no evidence to link him to the blaze. The court, in its unanimous opinion, said the jury "could reasonably infer from the evidence presented that appellants committed all the crimes for which he was convicted."

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