Stalking suspect held without bond after attack in prison

A suspected stalker who was attacked in prison last week will be held without bond at the Clark County Detention Center once he is released from the hospital.

Stephen Szczepanik, who is awaiting trial on new stalking charges, was found unconscious and suffering from head injuries in a general population area of the Southern Desert Correctional Center near Indian Springs March 7. He was, then, flown to University Medical Center and placed in the intensive care unit.

The attack took place two days before Szczepanik, 36, was to be released from the prison where he had been finishing up a six-year term on a weapons charge.

In 1994 Szczepanik pleaded guilty to the charge of firing a weapon from a car in an apparent attack against his former wife's boyfriend. The stalking allegedly continued from prison, and new charges were filed in 1997, Claus told Mosley. Szczepanik was charged with aggravated stalking and solicitation of murder after he reportedly asked a fellow inmate to kill his former wife and Aareskjolk.

That trial is scheduled for May 1.

On Tuesday Claus told Mosley that Szczepanik is still "very angry and somewhat out of control," -- so much so that at least two defense attorneys have withdrawn from the case because of threats.

"I don't see how he's going to be any different next week, next month or tomorrow, whenever he walks out of UMC," Claus said.

As for the bond issue, Wolfbrandt said there are problems with the new case. The state is saying that Szczepanik has sent the couple threatening letters, but those letters have never been opened. In addition there are questions as to why the state waited to serve the 1997 warrant until last summer, when Szczepanik had already been paroled to Arizona by Nevada authorities who weren't aware of the pending case.

Because of the new case, Szczepanik was placed back in prison to finish his sentence.

Wolfbrandt also pointed out it will likely be difficult for the state to find any witnesses to the alleged incidents of three years ago.

Mosley said that perhaps once Szczepanik is out of the hospital and the judge he is able to speak with him, Mosley will change his mind and set a bond.

After the hearing, Wolfbrandt said his client has been placed in a medically-induced coma to aid in the recovery process. The investigation into the attack is continuing.

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