A Las Vegas man is now facing a hate-crime charge after prosecutors say a confrontation in a Strip casino parking garage last fall turned violent and left one man seriously injured. The case, tied to an Oct. 13, 2023 incident in the New York-New-York parking garage, resurfaced in the public eye after an arrest that came months after police first went to the community for help putting a name to a face.
According to police, the clash unfolded along the resort corridor, where investigators later released images from security footage and asked for tips in January 2024. As reported by the Las Vegas Review‑Journal, the department posted a photo from the garage and shared contact information for Detective Alec Kolinoski as part of that appeal.
Prosecutors Lay Out Their Case
This week, prosecutors charged Manuel Ortiz with battery resulting in substantial bodily harm motivated by hate, and a jury trial is currently set for Aug. 3, 2026. Court records show Ortiz is being monitored electronically and did not have to post monetary bail because of his financial situation, details that emerged in court filings and testimony, according to 8 News Now.
Witnesses, including the injured man, identified Ortiz as the aggressor, and prosecutors say video captured the confrontation inside the parking garage. The victim, Juan Cortez, was taken to a hospital, where he needed stitches and a blood transfusion. "I was really scared," witness Andre Rodriguez testified, saying he feared Cortez might die. Defense attorney Craig Mueller countered in court that he sees no evidence the incident was driven by hate and described it instead as a drunken fight, according to 8 News Now.
How Nevada Handles Hate-Crime Allegations
Nevada law does not use a single stand-alone "hate crime" charge. Instead, the state allows sentence boosts through statutes such as NRS 193.1675 and enhanced penalties for certain misdemeanors under NRS 207.185 when a crime is proven to be motivated by bias, including bias based on sexual orientation. That framework, outlined by the Nevada Legislature, can add extra time to a sentence if a jury finds the required bias element beyond the underlying offense.
Ortiz is scheduled to return to court for pre-trial proceedings in the run-up to the August 2026 trial date. Police say his arrest followed tips that came in after their January 2024 public call for help identifying the suspect. The Las Vegas Review‑Journal reported that detectives had urged anyone with information to contact Detective Kolinoski or reach out anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
