Ex-bellhop’s wrongful conviction case ends with $1.98M state payout

CARSON CITY – The authorities of Nevada connected Tuesday approved a astir $2 cardinal outgo to a onetime Las Vegas casino bellhop who wrongfully served 20 years successful situation for execution and robbery.

Frank LaPena, exonerated by the authorities Pardons Board successful 2019 for the 1974 crime, volition person $1.98 cardinal nether a 2019 instrumentality that provides for compensation to beryllium paid by the authorities to wrongfully incarcerated people.

A territory tribunal justice granted LaPena his certificate of innocence and approved the grant connected June 30. The authorities Board of Examiners, consisting of Gov. Steve Sisolak, Attorney General Aaron Ford and Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, gave its unanimous signoff connected Tuesday.

“No magnitude of wealth tin ever regenerate our freedom, but with this decision, Mr. LaPena volition person immoderate redress for the years helium has lost,” Ford said successful a statement.

LaPena’s lawsuit followed a tortured way done the authorities ineligible strategy crossed much than 4 decades. He was archetypal arrested successful 1974 for the execution and robbery of Hilda Krause, woman of casino magnate Marvin Krause, aft being implicated successful the transgression by the existent murderer, Gerald Weakland.

LaPena was convicted successful 1977 but the condemnation was overturned successful 1982. He was retired and reconvicted successful 1989. In 1997, that 2nd condemnation was overturned arsenic well, but reversed the pursuing twelvemonth by the authorities Supreme Court.

LaPena’s beingness condemnation was commuted successful 2003 and helium was paroled successful 2005.

Then successful 2017, courts determined done DNA investigating and different grounds that Weakland had lied astir Hilda Krause’s murder. LaPena received a afloat pardon successful November 2019 and successful 2020 helium sought damages for his imprisonment nether a state instrumentality adopted by the Legislature successful 2019 and amended this year.

LaPena is the 5th idiosyncratic to person compensation nether the law. His outgo represents $1.5 million, oregon $75,000 per year, for the full of 20 years helium was incarcerated betwixt 1977 and 2005; $375,000, oregon $25,000 per year, for the 15 years helium spent connected parole; and the remainder for wellness security premiums, lodging assistance and attorneys’ fees.

Contact Capital Bureau newsman Bill Dentzer astatine bdentzer@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DentzerNews connected Twitter.