Clark County and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have been awarded $390,000 by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to expand and continue the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
U.S. Attorney for Nevada Daniel Bogden said the program has been instrumental in developing investigative expertise to find Internet predators who exploit minors. The task force program was created in 1998. This year's funding totals $2.4 million to support investigative cyber units to track and investigate child sexual exploitation by offenders using online technology.
The are 45 such task forces nationwide including the one in Las Vegas.
Jurors deadlock on penalty for Mesquite stabbing death
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Jurors deciding whether a 21-year-old man should be sentenced to death for the brutal stabbing of two girls outside a Mesquite casino told a judge Wednesday they are deadlocked.
Judge Donald Mosley asked jurors to "sleep on the matter" before resuming deliberations Thursday morning. Mosley reminded jurors their decision must be unanimous.
Beau Maestas, of Salt Lake City, pleaded guilty last month to stabbing 3-year-old Kristyanna Cowan and her half-sister, Brittney Bergeron. Kristyanna died. Brittney, now 13, was paralyzed.
Prosecutors did not offer Maestas a plea deal, leaving open the possibility of the death penalty for the January 2003 attack.
Authorities say Maestas, who was 19 at the time, carried out the attack with his 16-year-old sister. Monique Maestas, now 19, has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison if convicted. Her trial is pending.
Suspect in 2001 Hawaii robbery arrested in Las Vegas
HONOLULU (AP) - A 21-year-old Hawaii man was arrested in Las Vegas this week, four years after he gave cover to two men during the robbery of a Kailua credit union.
Police arrested Wayne Kalai Miller on a federal warrant Monday as he checked into a Las Vegas hotel and casino on the strip. Miller was the third and final suspect in a robbery at the Windward Community Federal Credit Union on Dec. 21, 2001.
Police said Miller broke the glass entrance doors and held a gun during the robbery as two men grabbed the money and fled. The alleged robbers escaped in a white van and later on a dark blue pickup truck.
The other two suspects, Taylor Ikaika Garcia and Gavin Koa, are cooperating with law enforcement officials.
