According to the RJ, Nye County District Attorney Robert Beckett was arrested Wednesday morning on fraud and embezzlement charges in connection with a bank account his office managed for more than 13 years.
Beckett has been charged with more than 40 counts, including 20 counts of fraudulent appropriation of property, 20 counts of misconduct of a public officer, one count of malfeasance of office and one count of embezzlement.
Seriously. The District Attorney.
The account in question was used to hold money from people charged with writing bad checks. The money was supposed to be used to reimburse victims of bad checks. Bad-check writers also must pay fees on top of their reimbursements.
Problem is, the account came up a bit short during a recent audit. Beckett's explanation for the shortfall is classic:
Beckett last week said the fund was being phased out because "people aren't writing bad checks anymore."
Yay! Only "good checks" in Nye County from now on - problem solved. Give that man another term in office!
You may remember Beckett as the DA who managed to wreck two vehicles in six hours while driving drunk back in June of 2008. He is, incredibly, running for his fifth term as Nye County DA ... but this time he has some stiff competition. [Rimshot!]
The election will (hopefully) come down to a choice between Ron Kent, Beckett's former chief civil deputy and Brian Kunzi, a senior deputy attorney general. Although, maybe it would be better for us if Beckett stayed in office. Who knows what he'll do next?!
(LVRJ; Thanks Tipsters!)
I love Nevada!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget ousted former Family Court Judge Nick Del Vecchio is (or at least, was) running against Beckett on the "I am sure the voters would rather elect a creep than a drunk" ticket. See, http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2010/Mar-10-Wed-2010/news/34728382.html
ReplyDeleteDid you miss the Ron Kent shenanigans? Apparently you did. Kunzi vs. Watkins would guarantee us fewer headlines out of Nye, regardless of party, though in a sense that would be a mixed blessing.
ReplyDeleteI read Les Stovall has been appointed special prosecutor in Pahrump to look into all the nonsense. Good choice!! Don't let a little federal felony conviction for cheating on his taxes get in the way. Nye county makes us look good!!!
ReplyDeleteReally, Ron Kent - you missed how he beat his wife during the divorce and then the records vanished from the courts and how he had not one but three DUI's. Really, but I guess a county of brothels deserves wife beating drunks.
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