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May 13, 2005
Pattillo Jr. receives jail time
By DOUG McMURDO In a harrowing incident last October, Pattillo attempted to gain entrance into the home of Pahrump Valley Times outdoor columnist Dan Simmons' central Pahrump home, one in which his housekeeper and her husband and child reside next door to Simmons. After killing the power and the phones Pattillo fled after the police were called. Moments after they left without locating the suspect, Pattillo returned to Simmons' home, threw a rock through a door window and barged into the home. Simmons shot and wounded the intruder, who then fled. Several days later he was apprehended by police following a high-speed pursuit and was arrested on the home invasion charge. He had previously been charged with statutory sexual assault and was awaiting trial on that case. District Attorney Bob Beckett characterized Pattillo as a one-man crime wave and expressed satisfaction with the sentence handed down Monday. "Mr. Pattillo has a meth problem," Beckett said. "And when you have a meth problem you do two things to get your dope; you steal or you deal. "We have to send a message that this type of criminal activity ... who knows what would have happened if Dan (Simmons) wasn't armed? It's very frightening and we simply have to let people know it won't be tolerated." Also on Monday Pattillo pleaded guilty to other charges, included felony eluding. He awaits sentencing on those counts. In other crime news: € In a case that brought back disturbing memories of past predators, Beckett said a 25-year-old Pahrump man confessed and has subsequently been sentenced in the statutory sexual seductions of three Pahrump girls, one who is 13-years-old and two who are 14. The crimes were committed in 2004. Joseph Douglas Hilts, according to Beckett, initially denied having sex with any females less than 16 years old, the age of consent in Nevada. However, after numerous interviews the suspect reportedly admitted he shared marijuana and beer with the teens before engaging in sexual activity with them. According to Beckett, the girls - and their parents - unwittingly allowed Hilts to prey upon them. "The girls would have their moms or dads drop them off at the Internet café where they were supposed to stay for a few hours," Beckett explained. Instead, the girls would leave the premises and go out to the desert where other teenagers would meet to "party." Hilts reportedly hung out with teenagers. "He'd invite them over to his house for a party, give them some pot, some beer and then he'd take advantage of them," Beckett said. This week Fifth District Judge John Davis sentenced Hilts to three consecutive terms of 19 months to 48 months, the maximum allowed by sentencing guidelines. "The judge said to not sentence Hilts to the max would be sending the wrong message. He said we couldn't let open season be declared on young girls." Most disturbing, from Beckett's perspective, is the parents' role in the incidents. "I don't think they understand," said Beckett, a father of four girls. "It's particularly distressing when we see young girls being left unsupervised. The potential for them to be preyed upon is very real." |
