Justin Bennett, 26, was sentenced to life in prison for beating his 3-year-old daughter to death in 2016, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye
A graduation ceremony for inmates took place at the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center. Inmates received varying degrees and certificates administered by Nevada’s public higher education institutions. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye
Bill Cosby Found Guilty on All Charges The 80-year-old actor has been convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault, all of which have a penalty of 10 years in prison. In 2004, Cosby drugged and raped Andrea Constand, a Temple University employee, when she went to him for career advice. Despite only being convicted for Constand’s case, multiple other women have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct. The verdict was delivered by the jury on Thursday after more than 14 hours of deliberation. This was the second trial for Constrand’s case against Cosby after the first trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not come to a conclusion.
Meek Mill to be Released From Prison on Tuesday The Philadelphia rapper will be released on bail today, according to an Instagram post from 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin. “@meekmill is FREE!!! Just left visiting Meek with @kevinhart4real and I’m on the way back to pick him up as we speak! #MeekisFree #GoSixers” Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years in prison in November 2017 after violating his probation. Meek Mill Meek Mill Meek Mill Meek Mill
Expertise New Path graduates Kimala Kimble and Latrice Kemp speak during the first graduation ceremony from the cosmetology program at Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Elizabeth Brumley Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto
1. Pahranagat Valley football coach Ken Higbee is facing dozens of forgery and misconduct charges after authorities accused him of stealing about $122,000 from the Lincoln County School District. Higbee was charged April 10 with a 225-count criminal complaint that includes one count of theft, according to records from Meadow Valley Justice Court in Pioche. According to the criminal complaint, Higbee was entrusted with a debit card, credit card and checkbook to spend for the benefit of students at C.O. Bastian but instead used them to deprive the students of funds. No warrant has been issued for Higbee’s arrest.
2. After serving Las Vegas for 33 years, the Dealer’s Choice Lounge is closing for good after a last-ditch effort to revive the business ran out of time. The bar has struggled post the financial crisis as competition in the area increased. Nevada Restaurant Services Inc., the parent of Dotty’s, has applied to open a second Red Dragon Sports Bar at the location, according to a screen shot of a Gaming Control Board application. The Red Dragon would inherit Dealer’s Choice right to operate 15 poker terminals. The Red Dragon will also occupy the massage parlors on either side of the Dealer’s Choice.
3. Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, who was serving a life sentence for a murder conviction and just days ago was acquitted of a double murder, died after hanging himself in his prison cell early Wednesday, according to Massachusetts prisons officials. The once New England Patriots tight end was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial-HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster about an hour later. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit in the maximum-security state prison. He hanged himself using a bed sheet that he attached to a cell window. Massachusetts State Police remain on the scene investigating the death. (Gabriella Benavidez/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
1. A Las Vegas doctor convicted of murder in the 2007 Hepatitis C outbreak has died in prison. Dipak Desai was serving life in prison with the possibility of parole on 27 counts, including second-degree murder. Desai’s lawyer Richard Wright argued that Desai was unfit to stand trial after suffering multiple strokes. The Washoe County coroner’s office is expected to determine Desai’s cause of death.
2. A 9-vehicle crash has closed down southbound traffic on I-15 near Moapa. Clark County Fire Department says five semitrailers and four passenger cars were involved in the wreck at about 2:50 a.m. No injuries were reported but lanes were still closed as of 7:30 a.m.
3. MGM Resorts valets fear for a decrease in income after an announcement that parking rates will rise again. One valet that spoke to the Las Vegas Review-Journal said his income decreased by $20,000 a year due to parking rates rising, and another said he had to take a second job to pay his bills. Parking rates at MGM Resorts will increase by up to $25 starting Wednesday.