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Jun. 20, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Seventh youth sentenced in MGM beating

Dexter Smith Jr. gets three to 10 years in prison

By K.C. HOWARD
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Beating victim Richard Markwell Jr., right, and his parents watch the sentencing hearing of one of his attackers, Dexter Smith Jr., Tuesday in District Court.
Photo by Clint Karlsen.



Dexter Smith Jr., 18, right, stands in District Court alongside his lawyer, William Horne, during his sentencing Tuesday. District Judge James Bixler sentenced Smith to three to 10 years in prison.
Photo by Clint Karlsen.

Richard Markwell Jr. is sick of coming to the courthouse.

The 24-year-old MGM employee made headlines in 2006 when the casino's surveillance video of black teens beating him near an MGM parking garage was broadcast nationally.

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    • Markwell and his parents have been to the majority of court appearances for the eight defendants charged with crimes related to the Easter weekend crime spree in which a group of youths committed robberies, beatings and one shooting across the Valley.

    On Tuesday, Markwell spoke at the case's second-to-last sentencing in District Court and said he was embarrassed to have to continue filling the role of the victim at these hearings.

    District Judge James Bixler sentenced 18-year-old Dexter Smith Jr. to three to 10 years in prison for his participation in the beating of Markwell and other crimes.

    Markwell said he hopes Smith will "have to deal with the type of pain I've had to."

    "It wouldn't make me happy, but it'd be just," Markwell added.

    The final defendant is Asryen Brown, who took a plea deal to get probation in exchange for testifying against other defendants.

    He took the stand in Jamar Lamont Rice's trial. Rice was found guilty of nine felonies and two gross misdemeanors for crimes committed that weekend.

    But prosecutor Victoria Villegas has said she believes Brown didn't fulfill his end of the bargain, so she hopes to get a harsher penalty for him at his July 23rd sentencing.

    Markwell said he was pleased with Bixler's sentence for Smith.

    A dozen of Smith's relatives and friends, however, left the courtroom in tears as Markwell's family was escorted to the elevators by a bailiff.

    Smith pleaded guilty in April before Bixler to five felonies and acknowledged that he struck Markwell and stole his Nextel radio.

    "He was the first person seen (on the surveillance video) and in his last act he was stomping on the victim's head," Villegas said.

    The beating left Markwell, a baseball coach, with a permanently disabled right arm.

    "You sat there and beat my son like he was a dog," Richard Markwell Sr. said to Smith.

    At his April hearing, Smith said he also was involved in the beating of Josue Medrano at a North Las Vegas Wal-Mart on West Craig Road.

    Medrano, the store's assistant manager, had previously testified he came out of the store to break up the crowd of young people in the parking lot when he was attacked.

    Smith also admitted to stealing the purse of a woman who was trying to call police for help at the Wal-Mart and said he was involved in the attack on a tourist at a Travelodge at Tropicana Avenue and Koval Lane shortly after the MGM beating.

    According to court records, the tourist, Edwin Janaslani of Glendale, Ariz., had been driving his children to Utah and had stopped at the motel to rest for the night. He awoke to the sound of a party outside his room, and about 3 a.m., when he went outside to smoke a cigarette, he was attacked. One of the men broke a beer bottle over his head, he said.

    Villegas said another attacker broke Janaslani's nose. After the beating Janaslani packed up his children in the middle of the night and drove all the way to St. George, before stopping to get medical attention.

    Dexter Smith's defense attorney, William Horne, asked for probation for Smith, contrasting his case with that of his brother, 19-year-old Demarcus Smith, who received a four- to 20-year sentence for his role in the weekend crime spree.

    Horne emphasized Demarcus Smith was involved in a shooting at Pioneer Park and Dexter Smith was not.

    Horne also described Dexter Smith as an honor student prior to his arrest.

    After spending a year in the county jail, Dexter Smith was released in April after posting $50,000 bail. He then earned his high school diploma, got a full-time job and has volunteered with his church every weekend, Horne said.

    "Sending him to prison, the state will gain nothing," Horne said.



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    SPEARMINT wrote on July 22, 2007 11:51 PM: OH AND ANOTHER THING ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKES ME BE A FIRM BELIEVER IN BIRTH CONTROL.YOU ARE A WASTE OF SPERM AND EGG!!!!


    SPEARMINT wrote on July 22, 2007 11:40 PM: HEY PER VERT!!!! DO US ALL A FAVOR FIND ANOTHER HOBBY AND LET THE ADULTS TALK HERE.THE IDIOT CHAT RM IS AT ANOTHER WEBSITE!OH AND HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO THINK OF THAT MASTERFUL PIECE OF LITERATURE? IDIOT.........


    Ms.A wrote on July 22, 2007 11:18 PM: This messege is for Per, you can kick rocks and we know that you are perfect....right along with GOD!


    Per wrote on July 10, 2007 03:56 PM: You crybabies break my heart! Same old story: yeah, I know the rules, but let me tell you why they shouldn't apply to my darlin'...
    Do the crime, do the time...


    Rashidra wrote on June 28, 2007 07:44 PM: What a sentence. Is it because he's black and the guy is white that is playing the poor victim role. Get over yourself. How can you be a baseball coach of any significant status but working at the MGM. Are you a coach for the local t-ball team? Ooh! Dexter keep your head up. Your family and friends know who you are and what you're about.

    Much Love,
    Your Godsister
    Houston, TX


    Meekie wrote on June 22, 2007 09:22 PM: I think we should look at this with both eyes open and not one-sided. I can only think that his parents did nothing but teach him to be the best he could be in life that is why he is an honor roll student and has no priors. I think this should be considered as a mistake which at some point in time we all make. I don't care what your parents have taught you. Your actions also stems from the people you hang around. There has only been one person who has walked this earth that was perfect. So don't be so judgmental because we don't know what cause those young men to react the way they did, but in the eyes of God they have been forgiven. I know that there are some scars that will never heal but in time God will help those to cope with whatever. I believe he is remorseful so who are we to say what is a blessing what if it were you or your child standing in front of losing 3 to 10years of your life. Don't talk about the shoes ware the shoes.


    Spearmint wrote on June 22, 2007 09:16 PM: Well Michelle how can you say the cases were totally different? Both groups beat someone and both commited other crimes in Vegas, but yet the group of African American kids got more severe sentences.And if you as a mother are promoting non-violence then why is it that you contradict yourself? You say if it would have been your child your punishment would have been worse than the 10-20 yrs.What exactly would you have done? Possibly more violence? And how do you know the way Dexter's parents raised him? You can only teach a kid so much and then its up to them to make there own decisions.What if in the future your child does something that lands him in jail.Wouldnt you want your child to get a fair trial no matter what?And how do you as an African American plan on doing something about the justice sytem? Do you plan on marching and portesting for your rights or rather just sit back and say the justice system is corrupt and go about your business.To me it seems like you are stereotyping your own race.There are tones of African American teachers,lawyers and doctors.The media portrays the African Americans as if your race is the only one that can commit a crime.Im not even African American and I can see that.Why cant you?


    Angel wrote on June 22, 2007 09:07 PM: In response to Michelle. Yeah what you are saying sounds good.....but wake up to the real world!! No matter what we do, being a minority is going to be a factor in every case and minorities will always be charged differently. Yes we can raise our children one way and then they go out with a group of friends and let peer pressure get the best of them. No it's not right the actions that these children took but we will see how many times your son is put in a position that will get him in trouble. No matter what you taught him sometimes peer pressure exceeds that. And how do you know that these childrens parents did not raise them to have better judgement? Now you are streotyping your own race.(classic!) And yes race and punishment is a issue in this case. Don't get me wrong my heart goes out to all the victims but I don't know why the harsh punishment in the case amazes me....racism has never stopped since 1950 when "blacks" were freed, we are living in 2007 and I thought we were all suppose to be equal no matter what race, religion, or nationality we are. But I guess not. Please let God judge these teens. We all sin and so please don't act like we are all perfect.


    michelle wrote on June 22, 2007 06:55 PM: The fact of the matter is both groups where wrong and both groups broke the law. And yes the punishment where not equal but each case had completely different facts beside the race and status of the young men.
    We sit and get angry and act surpise as if we didn't know the crj system discriminates. But insteed of complaining and comparing cases do something about it.
    I am black and in both cases if it had been my child who was beat, 10-20 years is a blessing compared to me as mother may have done. Put yourself in his mothers shoes and ask yourself again how you feel.
    Now yes one can say the punishments where not equal but that is not the issue. My son is black and from day one I have taught my son that the criminal justice system is bias, so knowing that I've taught my son not to put himself in that position. No that may not be fair but life is not fair. And until we as black or minority americans start raising our children to be judges, lawyers, officers, scientist,polititions,doctors,bankers, husband and wives etc, insteed of baby mama's and baby daddies, we can start making changes. It shouldn't be about black or white it should be about raising healthy,smart,happy children.


    Spearmint wrote on June 22, 2007 02:48 AM: In Las Vegas it saddens me to think that racism still exists but this case proves that its still around.In order for Dexter Smith to have a fair trial he would have to be white and from Summerlin.I totally agree with Candy.The 311 boys were white and from wealthy families thats the only reason why they got off with parole.I work at a casino on the strip and Im sorry Mr or Mrs. TB the tourists are still coming! And Im sorry this was a 24 yr old man they beat up I hardly doubt he is unable to work for the rest of his life.He is milking it for all he can probably now on disability collecting a check!Yes Dexter is guilty, but do not judge him by his actions! I hardly doubt everyone leaving a comment is innocent, you just haven't been caught.Do not judge unless your totally innocent!!!!!!And that should be no one except God!!!!!!


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