No bail ordered for suspect in fatal Las Vegas stabbing, who may be illegal immigrant
A judge ordered Monday that a man accused in a fatal stabbing at an apartment be held without bail.
Delvison Escalona-Hernandez, 26, was arrested in Los Angeles on May 14 in connection with the May 4 killing of Yexon Lopez Escalona, 24.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Michelle Fleck told Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Noreen DeMonte the argument that led to the stabbing stemmed from a financial dispute about a cell phone.
During the fight, she said, Escalona-Hernandez grabbed a knife and repeatedly stabbed the victim, then fled to Los Angeles.
Witnesses “would say that this was an unprovoked attack and that the victim was in no way a threat to the defendant,” according to Fleck.
Fleck asked for DeMonte not to give bail to Escalona-Hernandez, who smiled as Fleck talked about the allegations. The prosecutor said he is a Venezuelan citizen who is in the country illegally, has been arrested for “re-entry type scenarios” and lacks community ties.
Defense attorney Lance Maningo said the defense has not yet been able to evaluate the witnesses’ credibility and asked DeMonte set bail.
Escalona-Hernandez works in the demolition industry, has no criminal history and claims to have asylum status, according to his attorney.
Escalona-Hernandez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 17.
Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BrighamNoble on X.
