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Attorneys for teens in Rancho High death case want charges dismissed

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:04:44 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It was a packed courtroom Thursday morning for a hearing with four of the teens accused of beating and killing their Rancho High School classmate 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis.

While family members of several of the suspects filled the benches, many, including Jill Hough, came in support of justice for Lewis, wearing a T-shirt with his name and face.

“Everybody needs to know this young man suffered at the hands of many,” Hough said.

KTNV

Hough is a friend of Lewis’ mother and a member of the group “Justice for Jonathan.”

“It’s extremely upsetting to see what [Lewis’ mother] is going through and having to relive this on a daily basis,” Hough said.

RELATED LINK: 911 Calls: Beaten Rancho High student dragged from alley to campus after fight

Gianni Robinson, Damien Hernandez, Dontral Beaver and Treavion Randolph are four of the ten teens accused of brutally beating and killing Lewis in an alley way near Rancho High School last November.

According to an autopsy report from the Clark County Coroner’s Office, Lewis’ cause of death was “complications of multiple blunt force injuries.” The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The four teens were indicted by a Clark County grand jury in January on charges of murder and conspiracy.

But attorneys for all four, Robert Draskovich, Karen Ann Connolly, Gabriel Grasso and Daniel Martinez, have filed petitions of writ of habeus corpus to dismiss the indictment.

They argue the indictment should be dismissed because their clients acted in self-defense, in response to Lewis throwing the first punch.

“This was not a coordinated or planned attack upon a young man,” said Connolly in court.

KTNV

RELATED LINK: Las Vegas valley teen murder arrests are up 500%: Is it for clicks and clout?

But Chief Deputy District attorney Pamela Weckerly asserted videos from the scene show a group of people targeting Lewis which she says support the charges in the indictment.

“The attack on this victim wasn’t quick,” Weckerly told Judge Tierra Jones. “It is a circle of people around a single individual with the object of inflicting injuries on a single individual. Everybody’s kicking the same person. Everybody’s punching the same person. There’s nothing going on except for inflicting harm on the victim in this case.”

Hough told Channel 13 she will continue to wear a T-shirt of Lewis at every hearing and hopes there is justice.

“If there wasn’t a conspiracy, why so many people in that one particular alley,” Hough questioned. “I want everybody to see his face and know his name, Jonathan Lewis Jr.”

Supporters of Lewis also expressed disappointment because one of the attorneys repeatedly said “Jonathan Smith” instead of “Jonathan Lewis” in court.

Judge Jones said she will issue a written decision on the writ but did not specify a date.

The four teens’ trial date is scheduled in August.

As of Thursday, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said it is still looking for a tenth suspect in connection to the case.

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Deal between CA authorities and ‘Keefe D’ could affect prosecution in Tupac case

attorneylegalcounsel99 — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 05:36:00 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — According to Las Vegas Metro Police, Duane ‘Keefe D’ Davis talked himself into own grand jury indictment. His interviews over the years about Tupac Shakur’s murder along with his 2019 autobiography were used as evidence and presented to a grand jury.

But back in 2009, Davis struck a deal with Los Angeles investigators to tell them about what he knows about Tupac’s murder. In exchange, those statements could not be used against him in court. It’s what’s known as a proffer agreement.

MORE:’They didn’t make a scene like last time’: Police footage shows Duane ‘Keefe D’ Davis’ arrest

This agreement could lead to a legal entanglement in court.

Greg Kading is a former Los Angeles Police Department detective who was tasked with investigating the murder of rapper Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace. Wallace was gunned down just months after Shakur’s killing.

According to Kading, detectives had built an ironclad drug case against Davis that would compel him to be interviewed and tell the truth.

“He says ‘I really can’t tell you. I was there. I knew Biggie. But I can tell you about what had happened in Las Vegas,’” said Kading. “Alluding to Tupac’s murder.”

This exchange led to Davis’ admission of involvement in Tupac’s murder, according to Kading.

“The caveat is that we got the confession under what’s known as a proffer agreement,” said Kading. “But when he goes outside of that agreement publicly, all bets are off.”

IN COURT: Duane ‘Keefe D’ Davis’ CA attorney to help arrange representation in Tupac murder case

Kading explained the proffer agreement only protects Davis when that information is kept confidential.

“I would have made very clear to him back then that he was given that protection, but that protection was limited.” said longtime former Clark County prosecutor and current private personal injury attorney James Sweetin.

Sweetin was in the Clark County District attorney’s office for 28 years and was there when Tupac’s murder happened. He said the standing protection of confidentiality afforded David by the LAPD proffer agreement and its contents could be an issue for prosecutors.

“A defense attorney would likely attempt to say you can’t use those statements because they were subject to what’s called a use immunity in which they cannot be used against me,” said Sweetin.

Former prosecutor during Tupac Shakur case talks about new arrest

But prosecutors could also argue the protection doesn’t hold in Las Vegas because the agreement was made in another jurisdiction.

“I think another issue that they would have to deal with is the fact that it was another law enforcement agency at another location that conducted this proffer and made this agreement. The D.A.’s office here and the local law enforcement had nothing to do with that.”

Regardless of whether the proffer agreement was made in another jurisdiction, Sweetin said he is confident the D.A.’s office has collected enough evidence outside of Davis’ protected words.

“I know the prosecutor in this case and also know the D.A. very well,” said Sweetin. “I’m sure they have looked at this in detail and they have done all the math on this. I feel they would probably be fairly confident in their position or potentially they have sufficient evidence, even short of the information in the proffer to be successful in the prosecution.”

The exact language in the proffer agreement in unknown and was not presented to a grand jury.

Sweetin said there are challenges in this murder case because it happened 27 years ago.

“I would note there’s no statute of limitations for murder for a reason. It’s one of the most egregious crimes,” said Sweetin. “In cases like this, when things happened a long time ago, there always is a tradeoff. On one hand, there’s physical evidence that was new when it happened but now it’s deteriorated. Also, witnesses don’t remember things in very great detail.”

However, it’s not uncommon for suspects to speak about a crime years later, according to Sweetin.

“Believe it or not, defendants like to talk about their crimes,” said Sweetin. “I think that might be the case for Mr. Davis, and that information, those statements can be used later in a prosecution very effectively.”

Channel 13 reached out to the Clark County D.A.’s office. The office said it will not comment on the proffer agreement between LA authorities and Davis.

However, on Wednesday after Davis’ court appearance, District attorney Steve Wolfson told reporters he’s certain the state’s evidence will prevail.

“The proof is evident, and the presumption is great that he will be convicted of first-degree murder,” said Wolfson.

Davis is being held at Clark County Detention Center with no bail at least until his next hearing on October 17.

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