Las Vegas
First-Degree Murder (3 counts)
In February 2001, Hanalei Dante Pattison got hold of an assault rifle and shot his pregnant sister, 32-year-old Carrie Pattison-Adrick, in her grandparents' home. Then, as his sister, Sally Kato, attempted to call police, he murdered his grandmother, 75-year-old Sally Kato, and his grandfather, 82-year old Yoshio Kato.
Pattison's defense attorneys claimed that he was suffering from paranoia, but prosecutors said that any mental illness he suffered was the result of his consumption of large amounts of methamphetamine.
In March 2005, a Clark County District Court jury found Pattison guilty of three counts of first-degree murder.
References: Glenn Puit. "Mother Hugs Son Accused of Killing Family Members." Las Vegas Review Journal, March 9, 2005; "Killer Spared Execution." Las Vegas Review Journal, March 16, 2005.
Murder and Manslaughter
Her relatives described 17-year-old Tyeshia Davis, a Las Vegas High School student, as smart and outgoing. The only trouble was that she was eight months pregnant by an older man, and he did not want the baby. Tyeshia, however, was looking forward to giving birth, and planned on becoming a nurse.
In July 1995, her older boyfriend, Omar Taylor, shot her in the head, killing her instantly. The next morning, Taylor surrendered to police. He confessed to the crime and pled guilty to charges of murder and manslaughter before District Judge Kathy Hardcastle.
Reference: "Man Pleads Guilty in Pregnant Girlfriend's Slaying." Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 18, 1997.
First-Degree Murder, Assault (6 incidents) and Death Threats (3 incidents)
Kashard Omar Brown had a history of abusing his pregnant girlfriend, Rebekah Hanson. He repeatedly held a shotgun to her head, beat her, and even beat Rebekah's mother, Ann Mayne. Rebekah had been to emergency rooms many times after Brown beat her, and, in one case, a Las Vegas police officer responded to a domestic disturbance call and found Rebekah badly beaten.
Finally, in September 2001, Brown took his violence even further. Rebekah was about to leave him because of his continued violence, but he would not allow this to happen. He threatened Rebekah with the shotgun held against her head again, only this time he pulled the trigger. Police called to their apartment found Rebekah dead from a shotgun blast to the head.
Brown told Las Vegas Homicide Detective James Buczek that he thought a prowler was in the house when he shot his girlfriend. He claimed that his gun accidentally fired.
During Brown's trial, the prosecution read a letter Rebekah wrote to Brown before he murdered her. The letter described an incident in which Brown threatened to kill her. Rebekah wrote that "You put a shotgun to my head while our (7-year-old) daughter was home. I'm going to end up dead one day." Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney William Kephart said that "He had made numerous threats, saying no one is going to take my child away from me."
On September 13, 2002, a jury convicted Brown of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon.
Rebekah's mother, Ann Mayne, said that "My daughter can hold up her head now and she can be proud. She had dreams until this cockroach came along."
References: Glenn Puit. "Murder Defendant Claims Girlfriend's Slaying an Accident." Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 11, 2002, page 5B; Glenn Puit. "Man Found Guilty in Girlfriend's Death: Woman was Killed by Shotgun Blast." Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 14, 2002.
Manslaughter of an Unborn Quick Child and Attempted Murder
In October 2002, after an argument in which he demanded that she have an abortion, Jesus Villagomez repeatedly stabbed his pregnant girlfriend, Flora Solorio, in the stomach. The stab wounds resulted in the death of her 18-week-old preborn child.
Villagomez was originally arrested on an attempted murder charge, but authorities later added a charge of manslaughter of an unborn quick child against Villagomez. Nevada law doesn't define a "quick child," though elsewhere it has been defined as a child that has developed to the point it can move within the uterus.
During a preliminary hearing, Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman heard arguments on whether the charge of manslaughter of an unborn quick child was appropriate. She then bound Villagomez over to District Court on the manslaughter and attempted murder charges.
Villagomez received a sentence of 18 years in prison for the attack.
Solorio said she fears Villagomez will attack her again if he regains his freedom.
In addition to imposing a prison term, District Judge Valorie Vega ordered Villagomez to pay more than $63,000 in restitution to cover Solorio's medical bills.
References: Glenn Puit. "Las Vegas Man Faces Charges: Viability of Fetus to Survive Outside Womb Might be Key." Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 9, 2002; Steve Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org, December 10, 2002; Carri Geer Thevenot. "Pregnant Woman Stabbing: Man Gets 18-Year Sentence." Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 27, 2003.
Arson
In November 1989, pro-abortion arsonists totally burned Pro-Life Andy Anderson's car, which had been covered with pro-life bumper stickers.
References: "Pro-Life Andy Anderson's Car Torched," ALL About Issues, November-December 1989, page 9; ALL News Digest. "Pro-Life Andy Anderson's Car Torched." ALL About Issues, November-December 1989, page 9.
Fatal Botched Abortion and Gross Malpractice
On April 3, 1992, abortionist Larry Thompson was found guilty of gross medical malpractice by the Nevada Medical Examiners Board for causing the death of Anjelica Duarte. His Nevada medical license was revoked after the Board of Medical Examiners of Nevada determined that while performing a fifth-month abortion at The Women's Place in North Las Vegas, the abortionist lacerated the uterus of his patient. Thompson failed to monitor the woman's condition adequately, and the clinic did not have adequate medical equipment. As a result of the laceration and inadequate care that followed, Duarte died because she had lost 90 percent of her total blood volume. Thompson also failed to recognize the cause of the patient's death.
References: Warren Bates. "Woman Dies After Abortion in NLV Clinic." Las Vegas Review-Journal, November 1, 1991, pages 1A and 3A; Warren Bates. "Answers Sought in Abortion." Las Vegas Review-Journal, November 2, 1991, pages 1A and 4A; David W. Crowell. "Bleeding May Have Killed Victim of Abortion." Las Vegas Sun, November 2, 1991; Ken Wilson. "Abortionist Found Guilty of Medical Malpractice." Action News [Christian Action Council of Las Vegas], July 1992, page 1; Nevada Board of Medical Examiners Case #8289.
Gross Malpractice and Malpractice (8 incidents)
The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners filed a complaint against abortionist Algis Martell in July 1995, alleging that he "failed to correctly read ultrasounds of women" who went to the "A Lady's Needs" abortion mill. Algis agreed to stop performing abortions after being accused of "misjudging women's pregnancies" and "performing abortions on women who weren't pregnant." In one case, he misread a ovarian cyst as a pregnancy and performed an unneccessary abortion. Two other women contend that they remained pregnant after having abortions at the clinic and were told on follow-up visits that the abortions were successful.
Under the agreement he made with the board, Martell is prohibited from performing abortions, but could continue to practice medicine in his specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. However, medical board attorney Larry Lessly said Martell was not currently practicing medicine.
Martell was already under probation from a previous complaint dating from a 1991 abortion. In that case, the board found Martell guilty of gross malpractice for "misreading the age of a fetus, failing to complete the abortion and rupturing the women's uterus." The board rescinded that probation since Martell is no longer able to perform abortions.
Zoe Wulff, a nurse who previously managed the abortion mill, relinquished her license in April of 1995 after the Medical Board accused her of scheduling abortions for women who were not pregnant. Several women told the Nursing Board that Wulff scheduled them for more complicated second-trimester abortions when their pregnancies were at an earlier stage. They also complained that Wulff led them to believe they were pregnant when they were not. Wulff denied the charges, saying she surrendered her license because she wanted to avoid a lengthy hearing and retire. However, the Las Vegas District Attorney's office is "investigating whether Wulff committed fraud or practiced medicine without a license."
The Medical Board's complaints against Martell occurred during Wulff's tenure at the clinic and involve "four counts of violating state law: one count of malpractice in the treatment of the eight patients, a count of failing to exercise skill or diligence in medicine, a count of performing services he was not competent to perform and a count of delegating responsibility for the care of patients to someone who is unqualified."
References: "Abortion Provider Could Lose His Medical License." Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 12, 1995; "Doctor Prohibited From Performing Abortions." Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 3, 1995.
Reno
First-Degree Kidnapping, Aggravated Stalking, Assault and Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injury
On December 8, 2003, Usbaldo Palomino of Reno lured his ex-girlfriend Veronica Flores from her apartment in Stateline on Sunday by saying her brother was drunk and needed help. When Flores came out, Palomino punched her in the face and carried her to his truck. As he raced from the area, Palomino's truck crashed into a house, causing Flores to be knocked unconscious when she struck her head on the dashboard, deputies said. When she regained consciousness, Palomino was driving her into Minden and told her he wanted her to lose her baby. He said he was taking her to Reno for an abortion, Flores told deputies.
Flores was eight months pregnant. She told deputies that when she began to cry, Palomino struck her in the side of the head.
Palomino and Veronica Flores had once been in a relationship, but hadn't been a couple for the past three years, she told police. She also said that Palomino had been stalking her and was once arrested for it.
Palomino was arrested at Carson-Tahoe Hospital after employees there reported the truck's crash into the Stateline house to police. He was charged with first-degree kidnapping, domestic battery, aggravated stalking and leaving the scene of an accident with injury. Bail was set at $105,000, and he was held in the Douglas County Jail.
Reference: F.T. Norton. "Man Arrested in Kidnapping of Pregnant Woman." Nevada Appeal, December 10, 2002.
Assault, Destruction of Property and Threats
Abortionist Damon Stutes, owner of the West End Woman's Medical Clinic, arrived one morning to find Operation Rescue West protesting and praying in front of his abortion mill. Stutes screeched his Chevy Suburban to a stop and leaped from his truck to pull down signs and shout profanity at the praying rescuers. Stutes then raced toward rescuer Bob Rothlesburger standing near the end of the driveway. Although Stutes claimed the rescuers were on private property, police later confirmed that the Christians were indeed safely beyond the abortion clinic property lines. The abortionist clutched a can of mace as he drop-kicked the two signs held by Rothlesburger. As Stutes tore the graphic pictures to pieces, he swung his fists and feet wildly. He chased the rescuer several feet backwards and threatened to send everyone to prison. Stutes has stated publicly that he carries a firearm. Clearly the pro-lifers were in a great deal of danger and were in fear for their lives. Police took a report and the City Attorney is handling details.
Reference: Operation Rescue West. "Abortionist Attacks Christians: Baby Killer to be Indicted for Destruction of Property." This account, backed up by photographs, was on ORW's Web site at http://www.operationrescue.org/abortion/damon.asp.
Results of Abortionist Damon Stutes' Violence
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