Slain woman’s spouse gets 36 years in prison
District Judge Douglas Herndon on Friday sentenced wealthy Reno pawn shop owner Darren Mack to serve a minimum of 36 years in prison for murdering his wife, Charla, and shooting Family Court Judge Chuck Weller in 2006.
Before pronouncing the sentence, Herndon noted that Mack, 46, never showed any remorse for his actions Thursday when he addressed the court for three hours.
“He never said, ‘I am sorry,'” said Herndon, a Clark County judge who was assigned to the case when Washoe County judges excused themselves.
“That at least would have shown some remorse. But there was nothing. That leads me to the conclusion you aren’t sorry.”
The judge’s voice quaked when he said the biggest tragedy was that the couple’s 9-year-old daughter, Erica, will be without a mother and, for the most part, without a father.
He asked Mack’s mother, Joan, and Charla’s mother, Soorya Townley, to rise above the tragedy, put their differences aside and “teach her good things about both parents.”
“She needs to be raised with hugs and kisses,” Herndon said, breaking into tears.
MONDAY
Sheriff candidate files for bankruptcy
When he was running for Clark County sheriff, Jerry Airola said he would run the Metropolitan Police Department like his fast-growing helicopter company.
A year and a half later, Silver State Helicopters, the company he built, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, about 24 hours after suddenly closing its doors at more than 30 locations nationwide.
The move left about 750 employees out of work and roughly 2,700 flight students on the hook for thousands of dollars in student loans.
In a statement, the North Las Vegas-based company blamed the closure on troubles in the U.S. credit markets that cut the availability of student loans and led to a “sharp and sudden downturn in new student enrollment.”
TUESDAY
Teachers union files new petition
Risking another lawsuit, the state teachers union filed a new petition to increase the gaming tax rate by 3 percentage points and direct the additional revenue to higher teacher salaries.
The latest petition was filed with the secretary of state less than three weeks after Senior Supreme Court Justice Miriam Shearing found the union’s initial petition violated a state law that requires petitions to deal with a single subject.
WEDNESDAY
Suspect killed; officers injured
A shootout between police and a fugitive in central Las Vegas left two officers injured and the suspect dead, authorities said.
The shooting occurred when officers were taking the fugitive into custody and the fugitive suddenly pulled out a gun and shot one of the officers, police said.
Three officers responded by shooting and killing Jeffrey Williams, 28, in the front yard of a home on the 2000 block of Canosa Avenue, near Eastern and St. Louis avenues, Las Vegas police said.
One officer was shot in the leg, and a second was hurt by the muzzle blast, police said.
THURSDAY
Coal power plant draws protesters
About 200 protesters demonstrated outside Mesquite’s City Hall against plans for a $1.5 billion coal-fired power plant on the outskirts of the town, which is 75 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
“What do we want?” a speaker asked.
“Clean air,” the crowd shouted in response.
Marching along with the protesters were several hired representatives of the coal-power advocacy group Americans for Balanced Energy Choices. They wore backpacks equipped with lighted signs saying: “You’re looking at 50 percent of American Energy. Clean Coal.”
Inside, Dante Pistone, public information officer of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, explained that the division’s sole task was to see whether the 750-megawatt, coal-fired Toquop Energy Project would produce less air pollution than government rules allowed.
FRIDAY
Monte Carlo to reopen Feb. 15
MGM Mirage said the Monte Carlo, closed since Jan. 25 due to a fire on the upper floors of the casino, would reopen in time for Presidents Day weekend.
The fire caused the evacuation of an estimated 5,000 guests and 1,000 employees.
MGM Mirage moved its guests to other company resorts the day of the fire and, over the last two weeks, transferred Monte Carlo reservations to other MGM Mirage properties.
“After what can only be described as an incredible effort by the best team of employees and contractors in the business, the Monte Carlo family will be in place Feb. 15 to welcome guests for Presidents Day weekend,” Monte Carlo President and COO Anton Nikodemus said in a statement.
COMPILED BY MICHAEL SQUIRES READ THE FULL STORIES ONLINE AT www.reviewjournal.com/wir