Ranch hand to stand trial for stabbing death at Ely brothel

ELY, Nev. - A Chilean ranch hand has been ordered to stand trial for the killing of one man and the wounding of another at an Ely brothel.

Justice of the Peace Ron Niman last week determined there is enough evidence for Reginaldo Nester, 41, to stand trial in district court for the Aug. 1 stabbing death of Joseph Bates at the Stardust Ranch brothel.

Bates, 54, of Ely, died of multiple stab wounds.

Nestor, who remained jailed on $250,000 bond, is also charged with attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon in the wounding of John Christopher, 55, also of Ely.

Charges against a second suspect, Patricio Osvaldo, 35, also of Chile, were dropped in September after prosecutors said autopsy results determined the knife Osvaldo was carrying at the time was not used to inflict Bates' fatal wounds.

Nestor and Osvaldo worked as sheepherders on different ranches outside of Ely, authorities said.