Judge orders man charged in 2021 Boulder City killing held without bail after new arrest in Henderson

What happened

John Powell Morgan, who is charged with murder in the 2021 shooting death of Boulder City resident Scott Dingman, will stay in jail even though he posted a $1 million bond in that case, KTNV Channel 13 reported. A judge ordered him held without bail on Wednesday because he was arrested on new charges while already out on bail in a separate felony case.

According to KTNV, police arrested Morgan in Henderson on Saturday on the murder charge, and that arrest led to new gun and drug charges. He was already facing felony drug charges at the time.

Why the judge denied bail

Judge Sandra DiGiacomo said that because Morgan was out on bail in another case and picked up a new felony charge, he can be held without bail. She said that gives the state time to bring the matter before the other court, which could withdraw or revoke his bail there, KTNV reported.

The earlier drug case

In the earlier case, Morgan faces felony charges for allegedly possessing about 30 grams of cocaine with intent to sell, according to KTNV. The station reported he now has two drug cases moving through the courts in addition to the murder case.

What police say they found

During the Saturday arrest, police said Morgan was carrying a concealed Glock 19 without a permit, along with other dangerous weapons including brass knuckles, and dangerous drugs without a prescription. KTNV reported that his attorney said the drug was for erectile dysfunction, and the judge was not persuaded.

A closed case that was reopened

Morgan claimed self-defense, and the case was originally closed. KTNV reported that Boulder City reopened it after the station's 13 Investigates team exposed major flaws and inconsistencies in the original investigation.

New details in the arrest affidavit

Police said Morgan's uncle, who was present that night, told them Morgan removed the magazines from Dingman's gun before the shooting and retrieved one afterward. Dingman family attorney Maggie McLetchie told KTNV this undercuts the self-defense claim. KTNV also reported that a blood spatter expert and the new police investigation raise questions about whether the scene was staged.

The family's lawsuit against the city

The Dingman family is suing Boulder City and its police department, according to KTNV. McLetchie said the family had to fight for access to the truth. "They say justice delayed is justice denied, but at least we're finally here," she told the station, adding that serious questions remain about why it took so long.

Dispute over a video and the defense

Morgan's attorney, Louis Schneider, has been sharing a short video of Morgan and Dingman roughhousing hours before the shooting. At a bail hearing Monday in Boulder City court, Schneider said Dingman held his client in a chokehold and pointed a loaded gun at his head about two hours before the shooting. "So nobody wants to seem to address that," he said, according to KTNV.

McLetchie called the clip part of a smear campaign and said it is a small fragment that distorts what happened. "It shows two people horsing around," she told KTNV. The station also reported it obtained 2024 text messages in which Schneider described Morgan unflatteringly to Morgan's ex-girlfriend, Cheralee Seekatz, who is now a state witness in the murder case. KTNV said Schneider has not responded to requests for comment.

Community reaction

Darla Wing, a longtime friend of the Dingman family, told KTNV she was relieved by the murder arrest after five and a half years. She said she remains worried Morgan could eventually be granted bail. "He's a threat. He's carrying weapons," Wing said, calling it a concern for Boulder City residents. More court coverage is on our public safety page.

What to watch next

• Whether the court handling Morgan's earlier drug case withdraws or revokes his bail, as the judge described.
• Further proceedings in the murder case, in which Seekatz is listed as a state witness.
• The two drug cases against Morgan, which KTNV reported are still moving through the courts.
• The Dingman family's civil lawsuit against Boulder City and its police department.