Additional suspects charged in Gonzales cold case murder investigation

Monday, March 07, 2011

On December 18th, 2000, Mesquite resident Roberto Carlos Gonzales was found deceased near Hafen Lane between Pheasant and Partridge in Mesquite, Nevada. Gonzales was beaten to death. Several suspects were developed, but the case eventually went cold.

In 2010, Mesquite Detectives along with the LVMPD Gang Unit and ICE/Homeland Security Investigations began a cold case investigation into the death. As a result of the investigation, two more suspects have been charged and were arraigned in Mesquite Justice Court on Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

Freddy Ponce and Paul C. Lopez (photos attached) have been charged with murder with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, and murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. The investigation into the roles of additional suspects in this case is continuing.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Gang Crimes Bureau at (702) 828-3309 or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com. Tips directly leading to an arrest or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.

The Desert Tortoise

Like many desert creatures, desert tortoises spend most of their lives "holed up." In spring and summer, they roam grazing on grasses and wildflowers, then head for their burrows when it gets too hot. In fall and winter, when it is cold and there is not much to eat, they stay burrowed in for six months or more at a time.

If you see a desert tortoise, you are seeing an endangered species. Please watch out for them on the roads. Tortoises live in washes and valleys where the soil is soft enough for them to burrow into, yet stable enough so they do not collapse. Remember, desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act and may not be handled or removed.

Golf in the Desert

The city of Mesquite combines calm, small-town flavour with big-city attractions and championship golf. The Palms and the Oasis Golf Clubs are only two of the half-dozen challenging courses in the area.

Golf Highlights in Mesquite

Golf built on the dramatic Virgin Foothills of Nevada makes for a unique landscape and golf setting.
Enjoy a spa treatment at the Spa at Casablanca or the Spa at the Oasis.
Mesquite serves as a gateway to the national parks of Southern Utah and Zion National Park, which is less than two hours away.

View more information about golf courses in Mesquite

The Speedy RoadRunner

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape. Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals.

Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.