IN BRIEF
DEATH AT APARTMENT COMPLEX
Man killed by shots through wall, window
A 40-year-old-man was killed in gunfire that pierced a wall and window of his apartment home early Thursday morning.
The shooting occurred at the Terrace Apartments on North Nellis Boulevard, south of Las Vegas Boulevard. The victim was dead when police and paramedics arrived on scene shortly after 6 a.m.
The incident might have occurred hours before that. A report of shots fired in the vicinity of the apartment complex had been made to police at 1:50 a.m.
Las Vegas police Sgt. Russ Shoemaker said that shots had been fired from the outside into the apartment.
"When someone shoots a bunch of times through an apartment window, I don't think it's an accident," Shoemaker said.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Newscaster suspended over affair with mayor
A Spanish-language newscaster who had an affair with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has received a two-month suspension for violating conflict-of-interest policies, her network said Thursday.
Mirthala Salinas was having the relationship with Villaraigosa when she announced the news of his separation from his wife of 20 years on local Telemundo station KVEA, Channel 52.
Salinas, 35, was suspended without pay. The findings of Telemundo's three-week investigation were reported on its national newscast Thursday.
MARIJUANA IN CHURCH
Hollywood minister guilty of drug charges
A minister with mail order credentials was found guilty Thursday of distributing marijuana through his Hollywood church.
The Rev. Craig X Rubin, 41, the leader of the 420 Temple who has appeared in episodes of the Showtime comedy "Weeds," faces up to four years, eight months in prison for possessing marijuana for sale, said Jane Robison, a district attorney's spokeswoman.
Rubin and some 400 members of his church believe marijuana is a religious sacrament and burn and smoke pot during services.
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGE
Police: Suspect says impalement accidental
A Wyoming man charged with murdering his wife said he accidentally impaled her on a sword and "cut her up" after she put food in his face, according to court papers.
Timothy Brandon, 27, has been charged with first-degree murder in Rock Springs in the death of Dawnita Brandon, 32.
Brandon told police he had his wife argued when she came home from a bar where they had been drinking Sunday evening, according to a police statement.
He told officers that his wife pushed a plate of food in his face. He said he started handling a sword and was holding it when his wife turned a corner and impaled herself on it, the police statement said.
12 YEARS IN PRISON
77-year-old sentenced for molesting boys
A 77-year-old California man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for molesting two boys over several years.
Walter Whitten Hancock of Gridley had pleaded no contest to a felony charge of continuous sexual abuse of a minor involving two boys.
Hancock's attorney, Dennis Hoptowit, argued for leniency and suggested probation might be appropriate. He cited Hancock's age, poor health, lack of criminal history and distinguished Korean War record.
Prosecutors accused Hancock of fondling one of the boys from age 6 through 12. The second victim was 4 years old and was molested for two years, prosecutors said.
