Man convicted in ’09 highway robbery, murder
A 38-year-old man was convicted Friday for the December 2009 robbery and slaying of a man left to die off the intersection of state Route 157 and U.S. Highway 95.
After a weeklong trial and several days of deliberation, a Clark County jury returned a guilty verdict against Edmundo Oliveras on one count each of first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy for the death of Ulises Mendez-Rodriguez, 37.
The jury acquitted Oliveras of several other counts, including kidnapping.
Prosecutor Shanon Clowers said she was satisfied with the verdict and respected the jury's decision.
Oliveras' defense attorney, Deputy Special Public Defender Michael Hyte, said he was disappointed with the verdict but respected the jury for their service. Hyte said the verdict will be appealed.
Oliveras is set to be sentenced Jan. 12 before Judge Douglas Herndon. Oliveras faces 20 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Authorities said Mendez-Rodriguez was driving in his vehicle about 6 p.m. on Dec. 9, 2009, with Oliveras and Rene Zambada-Jimenez when they asked Mendez-Rodriguez to pull over. Zambada-Jimenez then took a 12-gauge shotgun and shot Mendez-Rodriguez at least five times and stole $200 from him before fleeing in the vehicle and leaving the victim behind.
But Mendez-Rodriguez was still alive. Using a flashlight, he flagged down a motorist, who called 911.
The 911 recording revealed the good Samaritan comforted the victim and gave him water. He told police that Mendez-Rodriguez had named Zambada-Jimenez as the shooter.
E mergency responders took Mendez-Rodriguez to University Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Zambada-Jimenez pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and in January was sentenced to 20 years to life with the possibility of parole.
Zambada-Jimenez was quickly arrested after Mendez-Rodriguez's deathbed identification of his killer. But Oliveras slipped by authorities and escaped to Puerto Rico.
Oliveras was soon arrested but wasn't extradited to Nevada until March.
Oliveras took the stand in his own defense during the trial. He denied being aware of Zambada-Jimenez's plan to shoot and rob the victim.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
