Court upholds sentence of Las Vegas man in death of disabled son

CARSON CITY — A divided Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the convictions of Las Vegas father Stanley Rimer in the death of his 4-year-old disabled son.

Rimer and his wife, Colleen, were convicted in 2011 after a two-week trial on charges that included involuntary manslaughter. Jason Rimer died after being left in a hot SUV for 17 hours in 2008.

Clark County District Judge Douglas Herndon sentenced Rimer to eight to 30 years in prison.

The couple was also convicted of child abuse and neglect for physically abusing five of their eight children and letting them live in squalor.

Four members of the court found that none of Rimer’s many claims on appeal warranted any relief.

Three other justices dissented.

In a dissent written by Justice Michael Cherry and supported by Justice Nancy Saitta, Cherry said the cumulative effect of the procedural and prosecutorial errors during Rimer’s trial warranted reversal.

The justices also said Rimer’s rights under the double jeopardy clause of the U.S. Constitution were violated when he was twice convicted for abuse and neglect of his son.

“Given the breadth of the numerous, unfair, and dangerous prejudicial errors that impacted Rimer’s trial, the conviction should have been reversed,” Cherry said.

Justice Mark Gibbons also dissented.

Stanley Rimer has maintained since his son’s death that he was unaware Jason was in the vehicle. He said he was ill that day and left church before his family, spending the rest of the day in his bedroom. Colleen Rimer told Las Vegas police that she was solely responsible for the disabled boy.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801