Pahrump Nugget shooting suspect makes guilty plea agreement

The man charged in the shooting of a woman at a café inside the Pahrump Nugget back in January, entered into a guilty plea agreement on Monday.

Lee Anthony Daniels, 46, pleaded guilty to battery with the use of a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm, a felony.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 1, at 9 a.m. before Judge Robert Lane. He remains in custody on $50,000 bail.

As part of the negotiations, defense attorney Jason Earnest said prosecutors will not seek a habitual offender classification, while noting the charge is probationable.

Daniels would have faced prison time had he been found guilty in a trial.

“I believe the penalty is two-to-15 years,” Earnest said. “We’re going to stipulate to a forfeiture of $744 in the case, and the state will not be seeking habitual criminal status.”

Earnest also requested his client to be released on his own recognizance, to which prosecutor Daniel Young strongly objected.

“I don’t have his criminal history, but my client is a resident of Nye County,” Earnest told Lane. “I’d like to have an OR, but in light of the charges, you may be disinclined to do that.”

Earnest was able to argue successfully for a bail reduction on behalf of Daniels down from $260,000. However, the request to $10,000 was quickly denied.

“I would ask that the bail be reduced to $10,000 to reflect the category B Felony,” Earnest said.

Young meanwhile, agreed to a bail reduction, but he thought amount was too low.

“I’m going to oppose that request for an own recognizance release, and I think $10,000 is too low based on the nature of the charges in this case and to protect the community,” Young told Lane. “He pleaded guilty to the charges. He went over to the casino and had some words with the victim and for some reason he pulled out a gun and shot her in the leg. This was inside the café at the Pahrump Nugget Casino. Numerous people were there. Under the circumstances, I think the bail should be set at $50,000.”

“My concern is what I need to do to make sure you show up at the next hearing date for sentencing,” Lane said. “Based on the seriousness of this charge and the background allegations, if I set the bail too low or give you an own-recognizance release, you would rabbit, and that’s my concern. I like to err on the safe side. I concur with the calculation of a $50,000 bill for this kind of charge as well as the background of the charge. That would be an appropriate bail amount.”

Daniels was initially charged with attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a weapon in a casino and possession of firearm by prohibited person.

On Jan. 9, Nye County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives were dispatched to the casino after reports of a man firing a gun at a female inside the café following a verbal altercation.

The incident was witnessed by several employees and customers, as well as captured on video surveillance.

Daniels was located and arrested in Las Vegas with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The victim was transported to UMC Trauma in Las Vegas by helicopter after sustaining a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her leg.

Co-defendent Desiree Lewis, 36, was facing similar charges when arrested with Daniels.

Lewis copped to a guilty plea agreement back in March for attempted accessory to battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm.

She was released on her own recognizance pending June 13 sentencing.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com.

On Twitter: @pvtimes