Saturday, November 27, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Habitual criminal's request for execution denied by court
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
A Las Vegas man sentenced to life in prison as a habitual criminal cannot have his sentenced changed to allow execution, the state Supreme Court has ruled.
A three-judge panel of the court, in a ruling issued Wednesday, denied an appeal by Byron Crutcher in which he sought to be put to death.
The execution request earlier was denied by Clark County District Judge Nancy Saitta.
Crutcher, 48, filed his own appeal on Oct. 12 asking the court to allow him to be executed. Nevada allows the death sentence only for those convicted of first-degree murder. All of Crutcher's convictions relate to lesser crimes, such as possession of stolen property or burglary.
Crutcher is eligible for parole consideration from his life sentence in January 2007. He is serving his sentence at the Southern Desert Correctional Center.
