Man pleads not guilty in woman’s strangulation death

A 35-year-old man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the May slaying and sexual assault of a woman.

Harold Wilson Marin is charged with first-degree murder, sexual assault and unlawful sexual penetration of a dead human in the strangulation death of Edis Hernandez-Quintanilla, 43.

Meanwhile, the Clark County district attorney's death penalty panel decided Wednesday that prosecutors would not seek capital punishment in the case.

Authorities said Marin was caught May 1 by Boulder City police after dumping the victim's body in the desert south of Boulder City.

According to a Las Vegas police report, Marin confessed. He told investigators he met Hernandez-Quintanilla at the Silver Saddle Saloon at 2501 E. Charleston Blvd., near Boulder Highway.

Marin claimed the victim was a prostitute. He said he got into a fight with her pimp, who fled, and he then strangled Hernandez-Quintanilla and dumped her in the desert, the arrest report stated. Authorities don't believe Hernandez-Quintanilla was a prostitute.

During the interview with police, Marin said, "I don't know why you are doing all this. I have blood on my hands. I'm guilty."

Marin is at the Clark County jail on $1 million bail. A hearing to set a trial date is scheduled for later this month.