Attorneys assigned defendant in family slaying, rape case

Two veteran defense attorneys were appointed Wednesday to represent a 22-year-old man accused of the brutal slayings of a mother and daughter along with the sexual assault of another woman.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Sciscento appointed Tony Sgro and Chris Oram to represent Bryan Clay, who appeared in court, after the county public defender's office and the special public defender's office both said they had conflicts with the case.

Police believe that Clay, drunk and high on drugs on April 15, sexually assaulted a 50-year-old woman near the intersection of Vegas and Tonopah drives and then went to the home at 1016 Robin St. and attacked the Martinez family.

Once inside, investigators say Clay used a claw hammer to pummel Arturo Martinez, 39, and beat to death his wife, Ignacia "Yadira" Martinez, 38, and daughter, Karla Martinez, 10.

Arturo Martinez was recently released from the hospital.

The couple's two sons, 9 and 4 years old, were not attacked.

Clay also is accused of sexually assaulting Karla.

The public defender's office had represented the 50-year-old sexual assault victim in a 2005 felony drug case. An employee of the special public defender's office was close with the Martinez family.

A preliminary hearing is set for June 15, where prosecutors will present evidence to Sciscento to determine whether the case should be sent to trial.

Clay also is accused of assaulting on at least two occasions in February and March his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend, who is pregnant with his child. He faces two counts each of domestic battery and child abuse and neglect and one count of robbery. A preliminary hearing is set for June 19 in that case.

Clay remained jailed at the Clark County Detention Center without bail on the murder charges.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at
fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.