Hearing set for suspects in death of Eldorado High teacher

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 | 9:24 a.m.

Several witnesses are expected to testify next month in a hearing for three of the six people who have been arrested in the Oct. 20 robbery, beating and death of Timothy VanDerbosch, an Eldorado High School teacher.

During a first appearance this morning, Judge Deborah Lippis set a preliminary hearing for 10 a.m. Dec. 1 for Marcos Castrejon, 20; Saul Favela, 19, and David F. Rosas, 19, in connection with the 50-year-old physics and chemistry teacher's death.

The three were arrested Friday on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Police said VanDerbosch died after he was beaten and robbed, then hit by a car as he tried to run away. The incident occurred near Washington Avenue and Betty Lane as VanDerbosch was walking to school in the morning, police said.

The judge also made sure each of the three men were represented by attorneys. Attorney John Momot will represent Rosas, attorney Pete Christianson will represent Favela and attorney Bret Whipple will represent Castrejon.

The judge told the three defense attorneys that she wanted to keep the three cases together and held a short break in the case so they could confer on picking a date for the preliminary hearing.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas and Deputy District Attorney Josh Tomsheck will prosecute the case. They have the option of seeking a grand jury indictment to move the case from Las Vegas Justice Court to Clark County District Court. Daskas said he could not comment on whether they would go that route.

Daskas told Lippis he didn't know how many witnesses the state would call at the Dec. 1 preliminary hearing. However, he indicated there would be several and expected the hearing to last much of the day.

On Tuesday, three more suspects were arrested in connection with VanDerbosh's robbery and death. Bridget Lugo, 20, Daniel Carrillo, 16, and Marisol Diaz, 16, are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, and one count each of burglary and murder with use of a deadly weapon.

They were booked into Clark County Detention Center and are being held, like Rosas, Favela and Castrejon, without bail.

Although Lugo, Carrillo and Diaz have not yet had their first appearances, they are expected to join Rosas, Favela and Castrejon during the Dec. 1 preliminary hearing before Lippis.

According to police, the suspects are believed to be responsible for a series of robberies and other beatings on several nights.

During the robberies on Oct. 20, the suspects allegedly stole money, mobile phones, jewelry, credit cards and clothing items from victims while brandishing handguns or knives, according to the arrest reports.

Police said that in two robberies, they ordered victims out of their parked cars while stealing items inside the vehicles and on the victims.

In another robbery, one suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in his left calf after he fell to the ground trying to avoid the swinging knife. Another suspect punched the victim in the face after the stabbing, authorities said.

Victims of the other robberies reported being punched, kicked, stomped and pistol-whipped by the suspects regardless of whether they cooperated, police said.