IN BRIEF

VISITING FRIENDS

Man stabbed to death in robbery attempt

A 56-year-old Las Vegas man was stabbed to death in a robbery attempt near North Las Vegas Boulevard and Pecos Road early Wednesday.

Las Vegas police were called about 4:40 a.m. by a woman who said a man was beaten near the intersection of Cecile Avenue and Clifford Street.

Officers soon arrived and found the man on the pavement suffering from knife wounds, police said. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died, police said.

The man, whose name was withheld, was in the neighborhood visiting friends. He was walking on Cecile when he was approached by two men who attacked him, police said.

A passing driver shined the lights of his car on the attackers who fled south on Clifford, police said.

The suspects are described as being in their late teens to early 20s. One is believed to be about 6 feet tall, with a slender build, and short dark hair. The other was described as having curly hair and being shorter and stouter.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or the homicide unit at 828-3521.

FALSE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS

Housing inspector, wife accused of conspiracy

A Las Vegas Housing Authority inspector and his wife were arrested Wednesday for conspiring to sell false Section 8 vouchers, Las Vegas police said.

Douglas Williams, 48, was jailed on three charges of theft by misrepresentation and one count of conspiracy to commit theft. His bond was set at $10,000.

He conspired with Cassandra Williams, 54, to sell the false vouchers to unwitting low income residents who tried to use them to cover their monthly rent, Las Vegas police allege. Many of the victims later wound up evicted because their rent was not paid, Las Vegas police Lt. Ted Lee said.

Cassandra Williams is facing seven charges of theft by misrepresentation and one count of conspiracy to commit theft. She was jailed in lieu of $21,000 bail.

Warrants for their arrests were issued March 30, and they were taken into custody Wednesday after being under surveillance for a brief period, police said.

MOVED FROM HOSPITAL TO JAIL

Wife of slain gambler faces murder charges

The wife of a slain professional poker player recovered consciousness and was moved Wednesday from a California hospital to a jail to await transfer to Nevada on murder charges, a police official said.

Jill Rockcastle, 49, had been hospitalized in the central California city of San Luis Obispo after she was found unconscious at a motel room Monday, San Luis Obispo police Lt. Steve Tolley said.

Police have not described Rockcastle’s medical condition, but said she showed no visible signs of injury or attack.

Rockcastle was sought in Las Vegas on a warrant charging her with murder with a deadly weapon in the slaying last week of her husband, William Gustafik, 44.

Gustafik, a former chiropractor who turned poker pro in 2005, was found dead late Friday in a bedroom at the Panorama Towers, a luxury high-rise condominium just off the Strip.

Police said they have a knife believed to have been used in the slaying, which Las Vegas police Lt. Lewis Roberts said stemmed from a domestic argument.

The couple also lived in San Ramon, Calif., and Gustafik had a chiropractic practice in Hayward.

TASK FORCE

Group to help public prevent sexual abuse

Members of the Southern Nevada Sex Offender Management Task Force are conducting a meeting Friday night to try to help members of the public spot and prevent sexual abuse of children and sexual assaults in general.

Representatives of the various agencies that make up the task force — including Las Vegas police, Clark County Department of Family Services and the Rape Crisis Center — will be at Building D of the Community College of Southern Nevada, West Charleston Campus at 6375 West Charleston Blvd. from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. They will make presentations and answer questions.

HOUSE FIRE

Three people suffer smoke inhalation

Three people suffered smoke inhalation after a fire tore through a home in the west valley Tuesday night, authorities said.

Las Vegas firefighters were called to 6240 Clarice Avenue, near U.S. Highway 95 and Jones Boulevard, about 8:15 p.m. in response to a house fire.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames and smoke showing from the two-story wood frame home with a basement, said spokesman Tim Szymanski.

Three people who lived in the home met firefighters and were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, Szymanski said.

It appears the fire started in the kitchen when food was left cooking on the stove, Szymanski said. The pan and the cabinets soon caught fire one of the residents told fire investigators. The three residents and two dogs were able to escape, but a cat died in the fire.

Fire and smoke damage was estimated at $100,000.