Man charged with hiring someone to kill son to stand trial

A man charged with hiring an assassin in an unsuccessful plot to kill his son will face trial after Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman on Friday rejected a request to dismiss the case.

On Feb. 2, Dominick Harriman, 27, testified that his father, Keith Harriman, 48, wanted him dead because he told insurance fraud investigators his father's reported $160,000 burglary loss claim was a scam to feed his crack cocaine addiction.

Dominick Harriman said his father also was angry because he had slept with two of his dad's ex-girlfriends and one of his ex-wives.

But public defender Gary Guymon said key witnesses who testified at Harriman's preliminary hearing -- Dominick Harriman and his sister, Patricia -- lacked credibility, leaving prosecutors without enough to warrant a trial on 18 felony counts.

Prosecutor Nell Christensen scoffed at Guymon's argument.

Christensen said the two witnesses corroborated each other's testimony that Harriman on several occasions had said "two (black men)" were going to kill his son for talking to insurance investigators and the sexual liaisons with the father's former mates.

Dominick Harriman was shot while taking a smoke break at his uncle's car lot in August. The man shot him nine times, hitting him in the chest, both lungs, the abdomen, back and arms, which he held in front of him as he was being shot.

Witnesses said the shooter was a black man wearing a bandana and that two black men fled the scene, a fact prosecutors say corroborates claims of other witnesses who said Harriman told them two black men were going to kill his son. Dominick Harriman reported the threats to police prior to the shooting. Neither the shooter nor the other man has been apprehended.

In other court action Friday, both sides accused the other of violating a current protective order that bars family members from contacting one another.

Father and son reportedly attended the same car auction recently, and prosecutors allege the elder Harriman approached his son there.

Guymon told Zimmerman that Dominick Harriman violated the order when he hugged his father and asked him for a ride.

"Dominick is my son, regardless of these allegations," said Harriman. He implied the accusation came from his ex-wife, Dominick's mother, out of spite.

Harriman told Zimmerman his business is going bankrupt due to the traveling constraints imposed by house arrest, but the judge denied his request to release him from an intensive monitoring program for high-risk defendants out on bail.

She did, however, tell the used car salesman he could travel to California to purchase cars at auctions.

And the judge told Harriman that he needs to hire a private lawyer, rather than relying on Guymon. "Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for your attorney," said Zimmerman.

Outside the courtroom, Harriman walked back and forth, cursing loudly into a cell phone and drawing attention in the crowded hallway.

Though now off the case, Guymon continued to look out for Harriman's interests. Both the public defender and a public defender's office investigator tried to get Harriman to tone it down before escorting him to a quiet balcony.

"You will be in court," he said into the phone before hanging up.

Harriman will enter a plea in District Court March 31.

Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@review journal.com or 702-224-5512.