Tovin Lapan

Latino Community, Immigration and General Assignment Reporter

After working for his college paper, Tovin started his professional career in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he fell in love with the variety and excitement of working in daily journalism as well as with a sandwich called the torta ahogada. He comes to the Las Vegas Sun from the Santa Cruz Sentinel, where he covered higher education, city government and immigration. Prior to Santa Cruz, Tovin was on staff at the San Diego Union-Tribune, Miami New Times and Naples Daily News and worked as a freelance journalist for numerous publications. He has reported extensively in Latin America, including Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia and Mexico, and holds masters degrees in journalism and Latin American Studies from UC Berkeley.

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Former soccer coach, 36, going to prison on sex charges involving teenage player: Tuesday, May 21, 2013; A youth league soccer coach arrested a year ago on allegations he sexually assaulted one of his players has pleaded guilty to several charges and was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 22 years in prison.
Sheriff weighs in on pimps, hip-hop, cops and cameras on the Strip, and more: Sunday, May 19, 2013; Metro Sheriff Doug Gillespie has been having a busy year. In January, Gillespie joined other law enforcement members at a meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss gun policy. In February, Gillespie’s officers were handling one of the highest-profile shootings in Las Vegas in years.
Cause unknown in fire that damages two homes in Henderson: Friday, May 17, 2013; The Henderson Fire Department battled a blaze that damaged two homes early Friday.
Man found dead with gunshot wound at apartment complex: Friday, May 17, 2013; Metro Police are investigating the death of a man found early Friday in the parking lot of a northeast valley apartment complex.
Boy, 15, run over by SUV and killed during theft of iPad: Friday, May 17, 2013; A teenager died Thursday after a man grabbed an iPad out of his hands and fled in an SUV that ran over the boy as he struggled to hold on to the device.
Increase U.S. foreign aid spending? Darn right, panelists tell Las Vegas audience: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge was the keynote speaker at a breakfast event Wednesday at the Four Seasons Las Vegas organized by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.
Foothill teacher, 24, arrested for relationship with 15-year-old student: Monday, May 13, 2013; A high school teacher suspected of pursuing a romantic relationship with a student was arrested Friday after the student’s parents raised concerns.
Suspect in Las Vegas Strip shooting reconsiders, enters not guilty pleas: Monday, May 13, 2013; The suspect charged with three counts of murder stemming from a spectacular and unprecedented shooting in February on the Las Vegas Strip changed his mind after indicating earlier in the day he wanted to plead guilty.
This week in the life of 2013 immigration reform: Saturday, May 11, 2013; The Heritage Foundation this week released a report on the projected costs of immigration reform to U.S. taxpayers that, while met with strong rebuttal, managed to dominate much of the discussion on immigration this week.
Road construction causing closures along Interstate 15: Friday, May 10, 2013; Road construction will close several Interstate 15 ramps and cause other traffic restrictions Sunday and during the upcoming week.