Wednesday, December 04, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
State senator cleared of ethics charges
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CARSON CITY -- State Sen. Maurice Washington, just re-elected to a third term, has been cleared by a Nevada Ethics Commission panel of allegations of conflict of interest and abuse of power.
Commissioners Bill Flangas and Lizzie Hatcher, both of Las Vegas, found there was insufficient evidence to go forward with a hearing before the full commission.
Washington, R-Sparks, had called the case frivolous and denied any wrongdoing.
The complaint was filed in August by Washoe County resident Joseph Donohue, who questioned Washington's role in running a public charter school out of his church; his misdemeanor charge for nonpayment of worker compensation insurance for the school; and his involvement in Reno halfway houses for parolees.
Washington pleaded no contest to the charge of failing to provide worker compensation insurance at his school, Nevada Leadership Academy.
Sentencing was deferred for six months. If Washington doesn't commit a similar violation, he'll be able to withdraw his no-contest plea and the charges will be dismissed.
It was Washington's second offense involving industrial insurance coverage. The Center of Hope Christian Fellowship Inc., which he heads, was charged last year with failure to buy an insurance policy to cover workers.
At that time, Washington, an ordained minister, entered a plea of no contest. He was fined $70 and ordered to pay $50 in court costs.
Donohue said Washington owned three halfway houses for parolees in northwest Reno while serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee and may have voted on matters involving halfway houses.
Washington said he applied for a business license but didn't own the businesses. He added the houses were owned by a nonprofit group and he had served two months on its board.
