Father arrested for perjury at sons trial

A man who testified to the Clark County grand jury in a murder case in which his sons were charged and acquitted of was arrested today on felony charges of perjury and tampering with evidence.

Anthony Hottenstein Sr. was arrested by U.S. Marshals and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office at his home around 10:30 a.m. today. A jury returned a verdict late Wednesday in the trial of his sons, Anthony and Jordan Hottenstein, who were on trial for murder.

According to a Clark County arrest report, Anthony Hottenstein Sr. testified Wednesday that he was on the scene when Jamez Hall, 19, was fatally shot July 23, 2011. The statement contradicted earlier testimony to the grand jury, when he stated he was not there, according to reports.

When questioned about his testimony, Anthony Hottenstein Sr. said he lied to the grand jury, and he admitted to being on the scene. He also admitted that while on the scene, he obtained blood on clothing, and he left the scene, possibly destroying evidence.

Hottenstein will be arraigned Friday morning.

The jury acquitted Jordan of two counts of murder; his brother Anthony was also found not guilty on two counts of murder and not guilty of felonious assault, but guilty of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm in a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence.

The brothers admitted they were going with Hall to complete a drug deal on July 23, 2011. However, Jordan Hottenstein testified that while driving on Old Mill Road, Hall tried to rob him of those drugs, displaying a gun and demanding he hand over the marijuana. The two struggled, and Jordan Hottenstein said he yelled for help from his brother, who was armed in the backseat.

“He said ‘Hey, help. He has got a gun.’ So I had to make a quick decision, and I started to shoot,” Anthony Hottenstein said on the stand.