Prosecutors and family members of an Aquarius Casino Resort homicide victim are indignant that a Nevada judge set bail in the case. That allowed the suspect to be released before his murder trial begins.
Earlier this week, bail was set at $250,000 for David Cruz, 45, of Las Vegas, by Justice of the Peace Tim Atkins in Laughlin Justice Court.
Cruz was arrested Aug. 26 and then placed in the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. His attorney asked for bail to be set at $25,000.
Alejo Jack Areyan, 44, of California, passed away following injuries from the July 30 fight which took place in the Laughlin, Nev. gaming property, according to the Mohave Valley Daily News, an Arizona newspaper.
Police found Areyan on the casino floor. He was not responsive.
A short time later, Areyan was declared dead at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City. Other suspects fled the scene before police arrived.
The struggle broke out in the early morning hours in the casino. Many individuals took part.
They apparently were divided between two groups. Two men from the second group were in an altercation with the homicide victim, based on initial reports. The victim got knocked to the floor. He apparently lost consciousness, according to KVVU, a Nevada TV station.
Police are believed to have reviewed video from the casino’s security system before making the arrest.
Victim’s Family Questions Judge’s Actions
“The DA (Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Bishop Pesci) asked for bail to be denied,” Rosemary Flores, Areyan’s sister-in-law, told the Daily News.
But the judge granted bail. He [Cruz] should never have been let out on bail.”
Flores called it both “unethical” and “irrational” that a defendant in a murder trial was released before the trial. Also, Jasmine Arayan, Areyan’s daughter, said justice was not served by “letting this man free ….,” the Daily News said.
Clark County District Attorney Steven B. Wolfson shared the relatives’ concerns.
“At the last court date (Tuesday), my chief deputy district attorney (Pesci) requested that the … [judge] set bail at ‘no bail,’” Wolfson told the Daily News. “If the judge granted that request, the defendant would not be released.
“However, the defendant’s lawyer … asked for a bail setting of $25,000 and the court, on its own, set bail at $250,000.”
The case was continued to Oct. 28. A preliminary hearing will take place in Laughlin Justice Court on that date.
Cops May Be Looking for Second Suspect
Flores further told the newspaper a second man is suspected to have taken part in the murder. He is still on the loose and his name has not been released, the report said.
“He’s on the run,” Flores was quoted by the Daily News. “Nobody has any idea where he is. We don’t know if anyone is looking for him.”
Earlier Casino Injuries
In an unrelated incident, a man was seriously injured after a January assault and robbery outside of Laughlin’s Colorado Belle Casino Resort. The man was found bleeding after the assailants fled the scene.
It was unclear if arrests were made in the assault.
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