Suspect's '86 robbery bears similarity to Lily Burk case

Charles Samuel, the parolee accused of killing Lily Burk, was convicted 22 years ago of another violent robbery that bore a striking similarity to last month's abduction and slaying of the high school senior in downtown Los Angeles, according to court records reviewed by The Times.

As in the Burk case, Samuel was accused of kidnapping someone -- this time an elderly man -- and driving in the man's car to an ATM, where he demanded that the man withdraw cash.

When no money appeared, Samuel struck the man using the victim's wooden cane, punched him in the stomach and threatened to kill him if he reported the crime to police, court records show.

Samuel pleaded guilty in June 1987 to robbery, residential burglary and car theft in connection with the attack, which took place in San Bernardino.

During an interview with a probation officer before his sentencing, Samuel gave what appeared to be conflicting accounts about that night, according to a probation report that a judge unsealed Tuesday in response to a request from The Times.

Samuel said he was intoxicated and didn't recall the events of that night but also complained that he "had not gotten justice," alleging that the incident involved a dispute over a mutual girlfriend.

At one point Samuel tried to cast doubt on the allegations.

"If I had beat him like they said, I should have killed him," he told the probation officer.

Source

Whale’s defense vs. Harrah’s gains traction

Gaming regulators are finally starting to acknowledge the seriousness of a Nebraska high roller’s allegations against Harrah’s Entertainment.

Philanthropist Terrance K. Watanabe gambled away tens of millions of dollars at Harrah’s casinos in 2007. This year Harrah’s asked the Clark County district attorney’s office to file criminal charges against the 52-year-old for allegedly failing to repay $14.7 million in markers at two of the corporation’s casinos, Caesars Palace and the Rio.

In his defense, the 52-year-old Watanabe accused Harrah’s of supplying him with alcohol and prescription painkillers to keep him intoxicated at the tables as his losses mounted.

If this is true, not only is it contrary to the responsible gambling standards Harrah’s has set for itself, but it’s also against the law. Gaming regulations prohibit casinos from allowing “visibly intoxicated” players to continue to gamble. And illegal trafficking of prescription narcotics is drug dealing no matter where it happens.

Watanabe’s potentially explosive allegations got the attention of Harrah’s because, as the Sun reported July 25, the casino giant has brought in a national law firm to help it conduct an internal investigation.

And, after regulators downplayed the case for three months, Dennis Neilander, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, last week said the board’s Corporate Securities Division is “monitoring” the budding scandal and is “making inquiries.”

But beyond the prospect of regulatory sanctions, Harrah’s has something else to worry about — its credibility as an opponent of irresponsible gambling.

Source