Las Vegas Teens Plead Not Guilty in Bicyclist’s Death

Posted on: October 12, 2023, 11:02h. 

Last updated on: October 12, 2023, 11:20h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Two teens pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges on Wednesday for the August death of a bicyclist on a Las Vegas street.

Jesus Ayala, who was driving the car that struck the bike ridden by Andreas “Andy” Probst, 64, and Jzamir Keys, a passenger in the car, entered the pleas during an appearance before Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones.

Probst, a retired Bell, Calif., police chief, died from his injuries

Authorities claim Ayala and Keys intentionally drove into the Probst on August 14 near the intersection of Tenaya Way and Centennial Parkway.

Pretrial Publicity

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Ayala’s attorney, David Westbrook, a deputy public defender, complained about Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson appearing on TV to talk about the case.

“Frankly, I’ve seen the district attorney on TV more than Jimmy Fallon lately,” Westbrook said, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

I feel like this case is coming dangerously close to being a case the DA is trying in the media. I think it should be tried in the courtroom.”

Westbrook said he’s also concerned that the publicity surrounding the case could interfere with his client’s right to a fair trial.

In response, Wolfson told KLAS that if Westbrook has seen him on TV more than Fallon, a late-night TV host, maybe he should go to sleep earlier.

“We look forward to the day when this case comes to trial and when the state and defense can present the information to a jury so that [the] jury can deliver justice,” Wolfson added.

Murder Details

Police have revealed that Probst was thrown backward from the car’s impact. His body went onto the hood and windshield, before coming to rest on the pavement.  He was declared dead at University Medical Center.

The duo sped away in the car following the collision. Keys took a video of the incident, which has since gone viral.

In the video, the two teens are heard laughing about the fatality. Seconds before striking the victim, one of the suspects also yelled out, “Yeah, yeah, yeah hit his a**.”

Additional Charges

The incident was just part of a larger crime spree, police said, adding that the pair allegedly stole several cars.

They also are accused of being in a car that was driven into a 72-year-old man shortly before a car struck Probst. The earlier victim was also on a bicycle, but avoided serious injury.

Because neither of the suspects was 18 at the time of the incident, if convicted on the murder charge, the most severe sentence they could receive is 20 years to life in prison.

In addition to the criminal charges facing them, the teens have been widely condemned on social media.

One poster on Casino.org, Anne Freeman, called it unbelievable that the two teens “have so little regard for life. Crashing into a bike with no concern of what will happen shows that these 2 will do anything for kicks, and nothing will be off limit. Keep them locked up for the safety of others.”