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Aug. 28, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

'Thug' Presley, Elvis' cousin, pleads guilty in fatal melee

By DAVID KIHARA
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Kristopher Presley, a distant cousin of Elvis Presley, appears Wednesday in District Court. He was sentenced to 18 months to four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
Photo by Gary Thompson.

No one's throwing a party at the county jail for inmate Kristopher Presley, a distant cousin of Elvis Presley and an aspiring hip-hop artist who pleaded guilty Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter in District Court.

That doesn't mean the inmate who calls himself "Thug Presley" has regrets about leaving.

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    • District Judge David Barker sentenced Presley to 18 months to four years in prison for a fatal confrontation in 2004. Since Presley already has served more than 1,100 days in jail during the case, he is essentially a free man. He is expected to be released soon from the Clark County Detention Center.

    Speaking in a slow Southern drawl, Presley told the judge that he regretted killing Martin Diaz-Barboza after getting into a fight outside a mini-mart on Tropicana Avenue near Boulder Highway. A police report said the confrontation grew out of a racial slur uttered by a friend of Presley in front of a couple of Hispanic men, including Diaz-Barboza.

    Presley said he wants to get the experience behind him.

    "I regret what happened. I'm so sorry," said Presley, a native of Tennessee who lives in Las Vegas on and off to pursue his music career.

    Authorities said Presley struck Diaz-Barboza with his SUV and then ran over him. A Las Vegas police detective who investigated the collision said in a police report that Presley didn't brake during the incident.

    Presley left the scene after the crash but was taken into custody shortly after the killing. He initially denied that he was driving the SUV but then said it was self-defense.

    Presley's attorney, Greg Denue, said his client often cries about the killing when he talks about it. "He's tried to get on with his life," Denue said. "With his music career, he has a very bright future."

    Presley has the same piercing blue eyes as Elvis, but that's where the similarities end. At 25, he keeps his brown hair cut short and has a row of gold teeth that flash when he smiles.

    Presley has worked a variety of jobs but has dreams of following in the footsteps of his famous cousin and becoming a world-famous singer.

    He has focused on hip-hop and said he'll soon release his first major-label album, titled "White Gold."

    Denue, who also advises Presley on his music career, has been pushing him to sing country music too.

    "Your last name is Presley. I want you to think NASCAR and pit stops," Denue recalls telling Presley.

    But in an interview at the jail, Presley said he's going to be a hip-hop artist. "It's like the modern-day rock 'n' roll," he said.

    Presley said his great-grandfather was a first cousin of Elvis' father, but he added that he has no connection to the wealth associated with Graceland. Presley downplays his connection to Elvis, a link that was discovered through other sources.

    Presley grew up in a single-parent house in a poor area of Memphis, Tenn., and said being raised there informs his music. He has moved between Memphis and Las Vegas since he was 16. His mother lives in Las Vegas and was to star in a reality television show that would have had her date Elvis impersonators, Denue said. The show wasn't picked up.

    Ignacio "Nachi" Jimenez, Presley's manager, said Presley, a father of three, essentially raised himself. Jimenez said he's known Presley for about five years and believes he'll go far despite his rough background.

    "He grew up on the streets living a real rough life," Jimenez said. "I felt bad for the kid that he had such a rough life."

    But Presley said growing up poor is one of the things he has in common with Elvis.

    "He came up from the projects too," Presley said.

    Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.

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    ROOFA.. wrote on October 15, 2009 08:37 PM: I KNOW HIM.. HE WAS GETTING JUMPED .. FOR YOU DUMMIES..= OUT NUMBERED , AND GETTING ASSAULTED..
    HE JUMPED IN THE SUV AND PRESS THE GAS IN REVERSE..

    THERE WERE UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS BEATING ON HIS HOOD WHEN HE REVERSED.. AND HE RAN THE ONE BEHIND HIS SUV.. OVER..IF THEY WERE GOING TO JUMP YOU.. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?? ..
    LETS BE REALISTIC.. YOU WEREN'T THERE SO DON'T JUDGE..
    GO ON THUG PRESLEY..
    BE A STAR..
    AND DON'T LET THESE HATERS BRING .. YOU DOWN.. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS .. THAT IS AMERICA.. LAND OF DREAMS..

    DO IT.. -
    ROOFUS "THE TIGER" BOMBAY
    LAST CHANSE MUSIC -
    LOS ANGELES CA


    Brian wrote on September 17, 2008 10:40 AM: "truth," your name should more accurately be "heresay."

    I don't defend "Thug," Presley, his actions sound deplorable based on the article's info. But let's get this straight: Elvis Presely was damn sure not a racist and not a thug. Elvis respected blacks as human beings, and out of adoration of their musical and spiritual culture. He gave fortunes to charities benefiting inner city communities, black & white. He refused to stay in deep South hotels while on tour if they would not allow his backup singers The Sweet Inspirations to stay there. He was good friends with many black entertainers including Jackie Wilson, whose hostipal bills he paid in later years. That's some racist.

    That ignorant view was created largely by Chuck D's uninformed pot shot in Public Enemy's Fight The Power. Even Chuck D. has since retracted the implication, acknowledging Elvis as a pioneer who crossed racial lines with his music, and in D's words was "one bad-ass white boy." But the image persists. It's wrong. Stop the ignorance.


    grandmasharon wrote on September 01, 2008 06:20 AM: Gee, I hope he can still play after that slap on the wrist!

    I could understand the sentence and early release IF it had been accidental (stupid, but accidental). But for cryin' out loud, the man RAN OVER the victim and purposely didn't brake.

    God forgive us.


    D wrote on August 30, 2008 03:01 PM: What a loser.


    truth wrote on August 30, 2008 07:49 AM: Isnt it Ironic how people defend elvis a white trash musician who died of a drug overdose and have the nerve to call other musicans rappers thugs...How exactly was Elvis any different? Could it be because you dont like hip hop you create your own differences in your mind...The only differnce between Elvis and todays Rappers is music type and skin color...both are from the ghetto, drug using, racial slurring thugs..


    K wrote on August 29, 2008 12:40 AM: Maybe before all of you judge someone you should have the facts and also look at your own life and ask yourselves if you ever did anything at this age that you wish you could take back, JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED BY THE SAME MEASURE. God Bless both these families.


    Self wrote on August 29, 2008 12:32 AM: chris at court


    VJ wrote on August 28, 2008 05:33 PM: A WANNA BE VANILLA ICE... STICK TO REDNECK COUNTRY SON.. THOSE GUYS IN HIP-HOP..RAP AND GANGSTA RAP WILL EAT YOU UP AND SPIT YOU OUT LIKE A PIECE OF MEAT STUCK IN THEIR TEETH.

    PROBABLY YOU WERE A JAIL HOUSE BIOTCH IN THERE CRYING AND ALL


    elvis wrote on August 28, 2008 05:23 PM: Trop & Boulder Highway Enuff Said


    casinocon wrote on August 28, 2008 03:24 PM: How could running over someone with an SUV possibly be self defense? Maybe if someone is pointing a gun at you . . . again, we need more info here.


    sharpton wrote on August 28, 2008 01:12 PM: OK, I'll voluntarily suspend reason for an instant...Nope, couldn't do it.

    Your precious little feelings- which seem to be ruling the lot of you- and the machinations of the justice system are two completely different things. If the DA had a slam-dunk murder on him, he'd have been charged. Maybe the grand jury didn't see it that way. We don't know, because the article wasn't about that, yet everyone bleats on like a gaggle of porch monkeys.

    You'd think that with all your legal run-ins you'd have learned a little about law!


    Little e wrote on August 28, 2008 12:16 PM: You Know what else He Probably told the Judge-Thank You,Thank you very much.


    Herb wrote on August 28, 2008 11:39 AM: He needs to stay locked up until he's at least 50 years old and his testosterone levels start to drop. Maybe then he won't run people over and KILL them.
    There are not nearly enough young men in prison in this country. All the young dudes who show violent/killing tendencies should be locked up until they are old and lose all their misdirected vigor. What a beautiful world it would be without them.


    Jerry Wayne wrote on August 28, 2008 11:25 AM: Will... read the article. He was sentenced to 18 months to 4 four years and has already served over 3.

    Bet money he's a garbage rapper though.


    cantstandvegaswhitetrash wrote on August 28, 2008 10:55 AM: This guy is plain and simple and uneducated white trash loser. I don't care what his background and upbringing were. He probably did meth. This guy has nothing to contribute to society at this point. Go get a real job. Just what we need is another rapper creep. Rap will never be Rock and Roll. Yeah, your a real visionary. Rap is rap. Gangster music for wanna be white middle class lost souls. Rock and Roll was a completely different message. I agree with his lawyer, if he wants to be a musician, which again I dont see this guy having a future, bring something to the Country Western Genre. Stop being a loser for once in our life.


    Joshua wrote on August 28, 2008 10:54 AM:
    Sharpton; I believe for sure you are a "moron".
    what basis you and the prosecutors in this case are taking to call this murder an involuntary manslaughter.
    Kristopher Presley struck and run over the victim, left the crime scene, initially denied participating in the crime, how can this at least "second degree murder" with deadly weapon be called involuntary manslaughter. Do you have a correct answer for this, "MORON"? sorry you call yourself sharpton.


    Jack Black wrote on August 28, 2008 10:46 AM: David Kihara is more in admiration of Kristopher Presley than the life of Martin Diaz Barboza. Kihara, you are a slob. The movie "Paparrazi" where photographers are photographing the dying people in the cars at the beginning of the movie is just what Kihara is, an animal with no soul.


    Jack Black wrote on August 28, 2008 10:42 AM: A racial slur utter by a friend of Presley. How could that be when "Thug's" manager is mexican, Ignacio "Nachi" Jimenez!?! Go figure, you can take the bigot out of the woods, but you can't take the ......!! GET IT!!!


    Jack Black wrote on August 28, 2008 10:37 AM: Hit and Run is a Felony. A felony people. Its no different in Las Vegas. He killed a man and his lawyer says "He has a bright future". I'm sure Elvis is up there with Martin Diaz-Barboza looking down on you "Thug". No heart, No soul, No passion, just plain "Thug". You ignorant Tennessee hill billy. I pray for the family of Barboza...."Thug" go live a righteous life and ask for mercy.


    sharpton wrote on August 28, 2008 10:18 AM: You're all morons! Involuntary manslaughter is NOT murder.

    If this were 1957 you'd all be saying the same thing about Elvis..."white trash, jungle music is NOT music," and other myriad missives of the cognitively challenged.

    He's right, in a sense that hip-hop is the new rock-n-roll. Rock became formulaic, uninspired, and quite boring a long time ago. Hip-hop still has yet to discover it's boundaries. And for those of you confusing "gangsta-rap" with hip-hop...you're confused!


    san wrote on August 28, 2008 10:09 AM: HIP HOP???? A bright future in hip hop?? Good Gawd. And all that thug BS associating yourself with Elvis........Disgusting.


    will wrote on August 28, 2008 10:01 AM: 18 Months for murder? He hits some guy with his car, doesnt even brake, leaves the scene of the accident and he gets a year and a half?? I dont get it? What happened here? Will a lawyer please explain why he got such a light sentence? As an average tax paying citizen who has never had more then a speeding ticket i was under the inpresion that if you kill someone in cold blood then your done for 20 to 30 years or life.


    Computer Guy wrote on August 28, 2008 09:55 AM: Interesting take on moving his career along with this thing. It's possible. I don't feel sorry for him. We all have choices to make. He won the lottery with his last name, but if not for that, this would not be in the news.
    Las Vegas Computer Repair Guide


    Lou wrote on August 28, 2008 08:05 AM: Never heard of this guy until he was in jail? Is he really a Presley? Wow - what a waste. I feel bad for the 3 kids he made - they will probably grow up just like him.


    Gonzo wrote on August 28, 2008 07:00 AM: First of all - Hip Hop is not music and not even close to Rock & Roll. Calling yourself "Thug" is about right. White Trash would have worked for me. I bet Elvis is turning over in his grave. I just don't get the thug mentality or the so called music. I also don't believe 18 months in prison for killing someone (even another punk thug) is much of a deterrent for the rest of the want a be low life "Thugs" out there

    ..


    WDB wrote on August 28, 2008 06:18 AM: "He's tried to get on with his life," Are you kidding me? what about the life he took. 18 months is a joke


    Joe Bloug wrote on August 28, 2008 05:27 AM: 18 months for murder? Gee, everyone would kill someone if they knew that's all the time they would get. What a deal!


    Mauna loa wrote on August 28, 2008 04:55 AM: Thug Presley sounds like white trash, and should go back with him mom to whatever trailer park he crawled out of. His first move should go back to public school and finish the 3nd grade and move on from there. If MOM is reading this,"Por Favor" pick him up and take him away. Tennessee is calling.


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