Man gets life in prison for role in Las Vegas mother’s death

A 32-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role in the slaying of a mother of four in her northeast valley home, where her daughter was critically wounded from gunfire.

Willie Darnell Mason did not pull the trigger, but the gunman was “clearly under the influence and direction of Mason,” prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo said.

Mason’s defense lawyer Robert Langford said the shooter, David James Burns, was “the most culpable” in the shooting, and argued that Mason should have a chance at parole.

District Judge Eric Johnson agreed with the prosecutor, calling the killing of 28-year-old Derecia Newman “one of the most horrific murders that I have seen,” and added an extra 51 years to the Mason’s life sentence.

DiGiacomo said Mason planned the robbery in which Burns fired six shots through the apartment in the 5600 block of Meikle Lane in August 2010.

Newman was found with a gunshot wound to her head, clutching a $20-bill that prosecutors said the defendants handed her to make her believe they showed up to her apartment to buy drugs.

Her daughter, 12-year-old De’Vonia Newman, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

After Cousins handed Newman $20, Mason and Burns pushed their way in and Burns started firing from a revolver, authorities said. The first shot to Newman’s head killed her, while De’Vonia ran to a bathroom in the master bedroom. The gunman continued firing, with one bullet going through a refrigerator, skimming down the hall and hitting a dresser drawer in the closet of the children’s bedroom, according to prosecutors. Another bullet blasted through a vacuum and into the master bedroom.

As De’Vonia stepped out of the bathroom, a bullet struck her in the gut. The girl has since recovered physically from the shooting, but still suffers from emotional trauma, according to prosecutors.

Cousins told police that the group stole some marijuana and about $100 from the apartment.

In February, a jury convicted Mason and Burns on eight counts each including first-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery, burglary in possession of a firearm, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm.

Burns also received a similar sentence, which he agreed not to appeal after prosecutors removed the death penalty. Mason had not been facing capital punishment.

At trial, prosecutors said that in the early morning hours of Aug. 7, 2010, Mason, who goes by the nickname G-Dogg, and Burns, also known as D-Shot, showed up with Stephanie Cousins to rob Newman after buying marijuana and cocaine.

The suspected getaway driver, Monica Martinez, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery and testified on behalf of the prosecution.

Cousins pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced in May to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 18 years.

In April, Martinez received a sentence of to 10 to 25 years in prison.

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.