IN BRIEF

NORTHWEST LV VALLEY

Las Vegas man held in shooting death of wife

A man was arrested Wednesday morning in connection with the fatal shooting of his wife at their home in the northwest valley, Las Vegas police said.

Police said Jose Gueta-Castaneda, 48, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.

Police accuse Castaneda of firing at least once at another adult family member.

Police did not release the identity of the deceased.

Police said they received a call of a shooting about 11 a.m. at a home on the 2400 block of Valparaiso Street, near Smoke Ranch Road and Torrey Pines Drive.

Once inside the home, they discovered Castaneda's wife dead from a gunshot wound. Police found Castaneda in a nearby park and arrested him.

The couple had only been living in the neighborhood of ranch-style homes for a few months, police said.

The couple's three children, and an additional juvenile family member, were inside the home during the shooting, police said.

Christine Skorupski, a spokeswoman with Clark County Family Services, said four children at the home were taken into protective custody Wednesday.

VIOLATON OF PAROLE

Nazi gang member sent back to prison

A man alleged to be an American Nazi gang member received a 37-month sentence Wednesday after violating his parole and engaging in a short standoff last year with the Metropolitan Police Department's SWAT team.

Chad Mikitaroff, 27, was on supervised release after serving 51 months in an Idaho prison after a 2002 conviction for distributing narcotics, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mikitaroff, who has a colorful tattoo of a cut-open neck, was found in possession of firearms in the home where he was staying in the 4800 block of Jay Avenue, near Gowan Avenue and Decatur Boulevard.

$685,500 RESTITUTION ORDERED

Attorney imprisoned for tax evasion

Personal injury attorney Edmund Botha, who was convicted last year of tax evasion, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Botha, 47, owed the Internal Revenue Service about $4 million, but was ordered to pay only $685,500 in restitution.

Botha earned $ 7 million between 1996 and 2006, but only paid the government $230,000, according to court records. To avoid paying taxes, Botha created a bogus child support agreement that said he paid $20,000 a month for his two children.

He also dealt mostly in cash transactions, spending $2 million in business dealings along with personal expenses, according to the government.

Over a six-year-period, Botha also purchased 10 luxury vehicles worth $400,000 in his girlfriend's name. All the while, he drove an older car with more than 100,000 miles on it, according to court records.

Botha must report to prison in November.

SOUTHERN UTAH

NTSB releases initial findings in plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary findings on a small plane crash in Washington County, Utah, that killed a Las Vegas man last month.

Gary Logan, 54, died in the June 30 crash in southern Utah. The NTSB's Van McKenny says officials still haven't determined the cause of the crash.

While en route to Cedar City, Logan's plane crashed in rugged terrain about 16 miles west of St. George.

McKenny says flying conditions were ideal on the day of the crash, with clear skies and high visibility.

A final report is expected in nine months to a year.

DEFENSE TO SEEK NEW TRIAL

Life recommended in 'Alpha Dog' slaying

Jurors recommended a life sentence Wednesday for Jesse James Hollywood for orchestrating the kidnap-murder of a 15-year-old boy that inspired the movie "Alpha Dog."

Jurors deliberated about two days before recommending life without the possibility of parole instead of a death sentence.

Hollywood was convicted last week of the first-degree murder and kidnapping of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 over a drug debt.

The victim's mother, Susan Markowitz, said she was comfortable with the decision.

"As a mother, I would not be thrilled or relieved that he received the death penalty," she said. "Another son dying is not going to make me feel good in any way."

James Blatt plans to file for a new trial. Hollywood is "relieved that he won't be going to death row. He is also determined to prove his innocence. We believe strongly he did not commit this murder," Blatt said.