Las Vegas man sentenced in fatal shooting

A Las Vegas man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced Monday to 10 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Authorities said Anastasio Oscar Leon, 59, gunned down Jesus Cuesta-Morales three months ago at an apartment complex near the Stratosphere.

About 10:30 p.m. March 20, Las Vegas police found Cuesta-Morales suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at the complex at 1520 S. Casino Center Blvd. Cuesta-Morales died at University Medical Center.

Several residents of the apartment complex saw Leon shoot Cuesta-Morales in a courtyard during an argument, according to Leon's arrest report.

Leon told police he shot Cuesta-Morales after the victim insulted him and struck a woman, the report stated.

Leon admitted to investigators that he was intoxicated when he retrieved a handgun from his apartment and asked Cuesta-Morales to "say it again," according to the report.

Cuesta-Morales did not relent and insulted Leon again. Leon then shot him several times, the report stated.

Leon has a lengthy criminal history related to narcotics in Las Vegas, court records show.

In 1992, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a felony for which he spent 111 days in prison.

In 1993, he pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to three years in prison. In 2001, he and his wife were both charged with possession of a controlled substance, for which he received a suspended prison sentence and three years of probation.

Leon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in April.

After the March shooting, Leon was also charged with trafficking cocaine. He pleaded guilty in May to felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. A July sentencing hearing was scheduled in that case.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.