Accused of trying to steal comic books, Internal Revenue Service investigator Bert Lott attends his Justice Court hearing Monday. Photo by Gary Thompson.

An Internal Revenue Service agent accused of stealing comic books from a Las Vegas store was previously suspected of swiping other books from the store without paying, the store's owner testified in court Monday.

"I'd been watching him for months, actually," said Steven Riddle, owner of Velvet Underground Comics, 4241 W. Charleston Blvd.

"I knew he had been hiding comic books (and) taking them out of the store," Riddle said.

Riddle made the allegations Monday during a contentious preliminary hearing for IRS agent Bert Lott in Las Vegas Justice Court. Authorities arrested Lott on a burglary count after they said he took 14 comic books from Riddle's store near Arville Street without paying in July.

Tempers flared during the proceedings in the courtroom of Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis.

Just minutes into the hearing, defense attorney Bill Terry asked Lippis to remove a Review-Journal photographer from her courtroom and to confiscate the film in the photographer's camera. Terry argued that permission to allow photos in the courtroom had not been formally granted.

Lippis denied both requests.

Later, Terry repeatedly raised his voice in questioning Riddle, asking whether the store owner keeps records necessary for tax purposes.

Riddle, visibly shaken, said Terry "is trying to upset me."

Then, Riddle got on the judge's nerves because he continued to talk through attorneys' objections. He also did not directly answer a number of questions from Terry. An exasperated Lippis finally delayed the hearing a week.

"I hope everyone's manners are much better," the judge said.

Before the continuance, Riddle said Lott was a regular at the store, at times coming in three times a week. Riddle said he repeatedly watched Lott take comics and place them in sections of the store where they were not supposed to be, then wait for store employees to get busy before leaving. Riddle said he eventually became suspicious Lott was taking comics without paying for them. He claimed to have witnessed such a scenario on at least two occasions, but said he did not call police in those instances because he wanted to have another witness to the incident.

On July 8, Riddle said, he saw Lott come into the store and advised employees to "watch him."

"I told them not to take their eyes off Bert," Riddle said. "Watch him the entire time."

Riddle said Lott purchased less than $10 of comics, then said he wanted to do some more shopping.

"Most people, after they purchase something, they leave," Riddle said.

But Riddle said Lott set down his bag containing his purchased comics, then milled about the store, taking books from one location of the store and putting them in another.

Riddle said Lott was eventually stopped by a store clerk and comics that weren't paid for were found in his bag.

"He just tried to make a quick exit," Riddle said.

Terry then questioned Lott on whether he ever actually saw Lott put the comics in the bag, whether Riddle adequately documents sales at his business for tax purposes, and whether Lott ever actually left the premises.

According to a Las Vegas police report, the comics were worth about $43. The titles included "Vampirella," "Witchblade" and "Avengers." Lott told police he was on duty at the time of the arrest, and police reports state that officers confiscated his service gun.