Inmate sought hit from jail, police say

A Clark County inmate tried to take out a hit on a judge, a prosecutor and a cop who put him behind bars, authorities said.

The inmate, 42-year-old Daimon Hoyt, offered to pay a fellow inmate $30,000 to kill District Judge Michelle Leavitt, Deputy District Attorney Sandra DiGiacomo and Detective Bradley Nickell, authorities said.

Leavitt said Wednesday that Hoyt appeared in her court at least once on a burglary charge.

He acted "like a total gentleman," she said.

Hoyt was detained at the county jail, where he faces three counts of soliciting murder and more than three dozen unrelated charges including burglary, possession of stolen property and lewdness with a minor under the age of 14.

Hoyt, who authorities say is an eight-time convicted felon also known as Daimon Monroe, was arrested last fall on charges he was involved in a Las Vegas theft ring responsible for stealing about $2 million worth of goods. Police raided several locations in Las Vegas and recovered sports memorabilia, appliances and musical instruments that Hoyt and several others had stolen, authorities said.

Police said that on Aug. 8 they began receiving information from a Clark County Detention Center inmate that Hoyt was actively soliciting the murders of the prosecutor and police detective.

On Sept. 18, a jail inmate cooperating with authorities wore a wire and spoke to Hoyt during a recreation period. During the conversation, Hoyt called Leavitt a "bitch" and said he was scared she would sentence him to life in prison, according to a police arrest warrant.

During the conversation, Hoyt confirmed to the inmate that he wanted to kill the judge, DiGiacomo and Nickell, and discussed arranging payment for the killings, the warrant states.

Hoyt wanted DiGiacomo and Nickell dead because he blamed them for his arrest, the warrant states. DiGiacomo and Nickell both work on prosecuting repeat offenders and were working the burglary ring case.

He also accused both of violating his civil rights by carrying out an illegal search and seizure of his property, according to a handwritten February 2007 civil rights complaint filed in federal court.

From Oct. 1 to about mid-November, the jail informant told authorities -- including an agent from the local FBI -- about meetings with Hoyt. The informant passed along letters and notes to authorities written by Hoyt that mentioned the murder-for-hire plot and even stated that the price was $10,000 per killing, the warrant states.

DiGiacomo declined to comment on Wednesday. But District Attorney David Roger said his office takes such threats seriously.

"We're going to make sure he pays for his criminal actions," he said.

Leavitt, who learned about the plot on Tuesday night, said she wasn't intimidated by the threats.

"I think it's outrageous to make a threat like this on a judge. I think it's the breakdown in our society," she said. "If this becomes a practice, it's totally outrageous."

Leavitt said she never had any confrontations with Hoyt and was surprised when she learned he allegedly wanted to have her killed. She recalled that he appeared before her at least once while facing charges for involvement in a burglary ring. But he "was quiet. He doesn't talk back," she said.

Court officials said authorities have increased security around Leavitt, a single mother of three. They wouldn't go into detail about the security measures.

Hoyt's criminal history dates to 1992, when he was charged with burglary and grand larceny. More recently, in August 2007, authorities charged him with several counts of lewdness in connection with a sexual attack on his daughter and stepdaughter.

Authorities said murder-for-hire plots against judges and other court officials are rare. Edward Friedland, assistant court administrator, said there hasn't been a similar case here in at least five years. He did say, however, that authorities investigate about five threats of violence against judges each month.

In a high-profile 2006 case, Reno pawnshop owner Darren Mack was convicted of shooting Family Court Judge Chuck Weller in the chest, sniper-style from a parking garage near the judge's office.

Mack unsuccessfully tried to withdraw his plea in the case.

Leavitt said she wouldn't allow fear to rule her life. She recalled that her father, former Nevada Supreme Court Justice Myron Leavitt, also faced threats while serving on the bench.

"I guess I'm just sort of used to it. It's part of the job," she said.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-1039.