Trial dates set in murder of man by friends

Court dates have been set for four Carson City men accused in the strangulation death of Adam Wells.

The trials of Danny Shaw, 22; Tyler Cruz, 25; Juan Cervantes, 21; and Fred Bechtold, 21, have been split, with each man facing a jury alone.

Shaw, Cruz and Cervantes have been charged with principal to open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, principal to kidnapping in the first degree with use of a deadly weapon, principal to battery with the use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, accessory to a felony, conspiracy to commit a crime and destroying evidence.

Shaw was additionally charged with unlawful use of marijuana. Shaw and Cruz are being held without bail. Cervantes posted bail and was released to house arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 5, the three men allegedly invited Wells, 20, "on the pretext of friendship," to a home at 1400 Stanford Drive he used to share with Shaw.

The complaint alleges that when Wells was inside the home and seated, Shaw came out from a room and struck him several times in the head with a bat.

When Wells tried to defend himself, Cruz and Cervantes "further assisted by grabbing Adam Wells and holding him back as he resisted the attack."

Investigators say Cruz and Shaw then bound and gagged Wells, continued to assault him for sometime, then wrapped his body in a blanket and dumped it five miles off Sedge Road in Brunswick Canyon.

Prosecutors say the men were seeking revenge against Wells for allegedly stealing from Shaw as the motive.

Bechtold, also released on bail to house arrest, is charged with accessory to murder, accessory to kidnapping, and destroying or concealing evidence. He allegedly advised Shaw, Cruz and Cervantes "to burn their clothing and get rid of their shoes and further helped them to try to clean the residential premises to remove blood stains or other evidence," according to the criminal complaint.

Bechtold's trial is set for May 2, with a status check set for April 3.

Cruz's trial is set for May 9, with a status check also set for April 3.

Shaw's trial is set for June 6, with a status check set for May 8.

Cervantes' trial is set for June 27, with a status check set for May 22.

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.