Tentative plea deal still in works for teen charged in teacher’s death

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 | noon

One of three remaining defendants charged with multiple felonies in the Oct. 20, 2010, robbery and death of Timothy VanDerbosch, a Las Vegas high school teacher, has had her case delayed for another 90 days.

Marisol Diaz, 17, who is out of custody on house arrest, appeared Wednesday morning for a status check in Clark County District Court.

Diaz is one of six young people indicted in the death of the 50-year-old physics and chemistry teacher who, authorities allege, was confronted and robbed by the group while walking to El Dorado High School.

Authorities said Diaz and the others — one young woman and four young men — robbed the teacher and beat him into unconsciousness. He fell into the street, where he was run over by a truck and killed, authorities said. The six were also charged with robbing and beating several other people that same day.

Judge Carolyn Ellsworth remarked that there had already been several delays in Diaz’s case. Then Diaz’s attorney, Robert Langford, asked to approach the bench with prosecutors for a conference.

Diaz received house arrest in a tentative deal her attorneys worked out in September that requires her to testify against her remaining co-defendants.

After the conference, Ellsworth set Diaz’s next court date for 9 a.m. Aug. 8 for a status check on her plea negotiations or for setting a new trial date.

Two defendants face the death penalty.

Saul Farvela, 20, had been scheduled to go to trial in March, but attorneys asked the judge to delay the trial while Farvela considers a plea agreement. A hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Friday to check on the status of those negotiations or to set another date for Farvela’s trial.

David Rosas, 21, who also faces the death penalty, has a hearing scheduled at 9 a.m. May 17 for a status check on his case. Rosas’ trial has tentatively been set for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 10.

Three of the six defendants in the case have already made plea agreements with the state.

Bridget Lugo, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of conspiracy to commit robbery in exchange for 19 other felony charges, including murder with a deadly weapon, being dismissed. A status check on her sentencing has been set for Thursday.

Two of the defendants, Marcos Castrejon and Daniel Carrillo, each pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in VanDerBosch’s death and to several felony counts involving five separate robberies. Castrejon and Carrillo will each serve minimum sentences of at least 19 years in prison for those crimes before being eligible for parole.