Las Vegas gentleman accused of 2nd fatal DUI experienced legitimate driver’s license, rented automobile, prosecutors say

Prentiss Bates, 50, accused of lethal Thursday DUI, was in jail for driving higher, killing guy in 2012

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Las Vegas guy accused of his next deadly DUI had a valid driver’s license, was equipped to hire a vehicle, and was high on PCP and cannabis at the time of his most-new crash, prosecutors reported Tuesday.

Prentiss Bates, 50, is accused of driving a car or truck below the impact on Sept. 22. Bates slammed into the entrance of a parked car or truck, killing its driver, Demarr Sims, 40, of Las Vegas, law enforcement mentioned. The crash happened in a building zone all around 2 a.m. in the vicinity of Rancho Drive and Craig Road in the northwest valley.

Sims was performing as a development flagger for staff in the location, files claimed. Officers located Bates in the driver’s seat of the rented car or truck, which was backed up into a palm tree. Bates was nodding his head to audio after the “violent” crash, law enforcement claimed.

As the 8 Information Now Investigators initially described Thursday, the crash marked Bates’ second lethal DUI demand.

Bates told officers he was on his way property from a friend’s household, in which he had used cannabis and drank a can of beer, paperwork stated. When an officer asked Bates if he experienced been associated in the collision, Bates responded that “he did not know,” officers stated.

Whilst getting booked into the Clark County Detention Heart on Thursday early morning, Bates informed an officer, “I f—ed up yet again,” law enforcement explained.

“This is the first time I have prosecuted a person individually for getting a existence and experienced them appear again obtaining taken yet another existence in particularly the exact way,” prosecutor Eric Bauman claimed Tuesday. “People really should be frightened by the truth that people like Prentiss Bates are driving about on the exact same roadways they are on with legitimate driver’s licenses. That just must not be.”

Bates had pleaded responsible to a cost of driving below the influence of a managed substance resulting in loss of life in 2013. Bates was driving a automobile in November 2012 when he crashed into a motorbike, killing its rider, Jim Burchette, 58, documents explained.

Prosecutors explained Bates was high on PCP at the time of the 2012 crash, documents confirmed. The motor vehicle he was driving was rented to yet another man or woman.

A decide sentenced Bates to 8 to 20 decades in prison. The judge also purchased an interlock gadget be placed on his car for a minimum of 3 many years subsequent his launch.

Bates picked up a further DUI charge on June 30, records confirmed. A decide produced him on $50,000 bail in July pending the filing of a legal grievance. It is normal for judges to release a defendant on bail when a complaint is not immediately filed. The judge also purchased him not to generate.

Data present Bates unsuccessful to seem at an August hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest. A hearing occurred in August, but it was unclear if Bates appeared or if an legal professional appeared on his behalf. Bates remained out on bond pending a listening to in November — right until his arrest Thursday.

Bates’ attorney, Michael Castillo, questioned Decide Ann Zimmerman to established Bates’ bail at $50,000. Owing to his arrest next a felony DUI conviction, Zimmerman purchased Bates to be held with no bail.

8 News Now has arrived at out to the Division of Motor Vehicles for clarification.