Man accused of robbery a no show at arraignment

By Dave Clark

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 | midnight

A man charged in a home invasion and shooting in Henderson earlier this year failed to appear for his arraignment Aug. 20, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Javier Ruiz, 28, was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary with a firearm, kidnapping with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon and battery with use of a deadly weapon.

Defense attorney Michael Printy was unsure why Ruiz did not show.

"My last understanding was that he resided in Arizona," Printy said. "I don't know if that's still the case or not."

Deputy District Attorney Sam Bateman said Ruiz was on probation in that state.

In the absence of Ruiz, the case against Michael Tarkington, 25, who faces the same charges in the May 26 incident, is proceeding. He has pleaded not guilty.

Printy, who also represents Tarkington, said he is in preliminary discussions about a possible plea deal for Tarkington, who is scheduled to stand trial Feb. 2.

Police allege that a robbery near Valle Verde Drive and Horizon Ridge Parkway represented the culmination of a scheme to bilk money from a 70-year-old woman, who was allegedly told to pay tens of thousands of dollars to secure the trust fund of her late husband.

Eventually, police allege, she received physical threats preceding the home invasion.

The woman told police two masked men entered her home, and one dragged her across the ground, demanding money. A 50-year-old man who lived at the house told police he was shot after being roused from his sleep.

Mark Schwimer, who police allege was the mastermind, was found in some bushes in the neighborhood shortly afterward with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He later died.

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].