In Brief
BODY FOUND ON SIDEWALK
Man sought in slaying of homeless 26-year-old
Las Vegas police have identified a "person of interest" Wednesday in the slaying of a 26-year-old homeless man who was found beaten to death near downtown.
Police said they were searching for Bryan Dryden, 39, also homeless, who might be able to shed light on the slaying of Patrick Kelly.
Police found Kelly dead about 8:50 p.m. Monday on the sidewalk in the area of Grand Central Parkway and Charleston Boulevard.
Homicide Sgt. Steve Naegele said that Kelly was well liked on the street and that Kelly and Dryden knew each other.
Dryden is white, 5 feet 5 inches tall and 200 pounds.
Naegele said Dryden was known to frequent the area near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Charleston.
Anyone with information on the homicide or Dryden's whereabouts can call the Las Vegas police Homicide Section at 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 385-5555.
DRUG DEAL GONE BAD
Teenager gets 40 years to life for killing woman
A 17-year-old convicted of killing a woman during a drug deal was sentenced to spend 40 years to life in prison Wednesday.
A District Court jury last week convicted Shaquille Hazelwood of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in the April 2007 slaying of Cheryl Black, 49, in an alley near Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards in North Las Vegas.
Hazelwood, who didn't speak during sentencing, maintained that he accidentally fired the gun that killed Black, authorities said.
Hazelwood previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon and robbery with a deadly weapon. The plea agreement called for a two- to 20-year sentence on the manslaughter charge and a four- to 30-year sentence on the robbery charge.
He withdrew the plea before trial.
LAS VEGAS MUNICIPAL COURT
Luck of the draw puts Kolkoski in charge
Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge Betsy Kolkoski will take over as chief judge July 1, a matter determined Wednesday by the luck of the draw after judges split on whom to put in the spot.
The votes of the six judges were tied, 3-3, between Kolkoski and Judge Cedric Kerns, who had been chief judge until two years ago, when they started voting for who filled the spot.
Previously, it was occupied by the most senior judge on the court.
Kolkoski and Kerns drew cards to break the tie but tied again, with a two of hearts against a two of clubs. On the next draw, Kolkoski got the queen of spades and Kerns the six of clubs.
Kerns had the support of Bert Brown, the outgoing chief judge, and Cynthia Leung, the newest to the court. Judges Martin Hastings and George Assad voted with Kolkoski.
The Las Vegas Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes committed in the city of Las Vegas. The chief judge handles administrative matters for the court, can push policy changes and represents the court in public.
