California man booked in Las Vegas homicide case

A man faces a murder charge after Las Vegas police say he and two others beat a man who died days later.

James Mark Hahn, 46, from Anaheim, Calif., is accused of strangling Paul Pillat on Jun. 6, according to a police report. Pillat days later died at Sunrise Hospital.

Hahn told police that he and Charles Summerlin beat Pillat after they said he groped Lisa Logan, who was “drunk and passed out,” behind a bus stop on Flamingo Road and Koval Lane.

Hahn, also known as “Baldy,” initially denied hurting Pillat, whom police described as homeless, but later admitted that he had choked and knocked him onto the ground “full force.”

Summerlin told police that he also hit Pillat in the head and kicked him in the ribs during the beating.

Logan said that she heard Hahn brag about “beating the [expletive] out of Pillat,” police said.

Virgil Sprague told police that he saw Pillat the next day and that Pillat was injured with a swollen face and neck. Pillat’s eyes were bloody and “appeared to be popping out of his head,” Sprague said. Pillat told Sprague he had groped Logan.

Sprague told police that Pillat said he was having a difficult time eating, drinking and breathing. He noted that Pillat had a difficult time speaking, police said.

Logan told police that Pillat approached her on Jun. 8 to apologize and that Joe Barry hit Pillat in the face. Barry admitted to hitting him, police said.

That same day Pillat was taken to Desert Springs Hospital after complaining of neck and back pain, police said. Pillat’s condition deteriorated and he was transferred to Sunrise Hospital where he died on Jun. 11.

An autopsy determined that Pillat died due to homicide by strangulation, police said.

Hahn was arrested Tuesday afternoon, according to Las Vegas police. He is the only person facing charges in the beating. Hahn’s first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.