A person walks into the Clark County recorder's office Tuesday, the same day that Recorder Fran Dean returned to work for the first time since March 7, when police raided her home and office in search of evidence that she sold sensitive county documents. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Embattled Clark County Recorder Fran Deane's return to work on Tuesday triggered criticism from county leaders that she was reneging on an agreement to temporarily step down while under police investigation.

"She faces serious allegations, and I am concerned about the integrity of the office," County Manager Thom Reilly said. "But I have no authority to tell her she can't come back to the office."

Deane, 42, said she is simply doing the job constituents elected her to do three years ago.

"I need to fulfill the duties of my job," she said.

Deane had not been to work since March 7, when police raided her home and office in search of evidence that she fraudulently appropriated sensitive county documents and sold them. The probe remains ongoing.

Sources have said local businessman and Republican activist Monty L. Miller was Deane's co-conspirator but is cooperating with the police investigation.

Deane and Miller had a secret relationship through which he paid her more than $140,000 to get early access to sensitive documents that could be used to gain a business advantage, sources have said.

During the police raids, Reilly asked Deane to turn over day-to-day operations at the recorder's office to a deputy and not visit the office during the probe.

He says Deane agreed to step down. Deane maintains she did not.

"We're disappointed that she has unilaterally decided not to abide by (the agreement)," county spokesman Erik Pappa said Tuesday. "Our hands are tied. We legally cannot bar her from returning to work."

Because Deane is an elected official rather than a county employee or appointee, county leaders have little power over her.

However, Reilly on Tuesday ordered a restriction be placed on Deane's key card, removing her ability to enter the Clark County Government Center after normal business hours.

Also, at the request of police investigators, county officials suspended Deane's county e-mail account.

Deane said late Tuesday afternoon that the key card restriction would not affect her.

"I only come in the daytime hours anyway," she said.

Deane was unaware her e-mail account had been suspended.

"I wouldn't know that because they've removed the computer from my office," she said. "It will not affect the day-to-day operations of the recorder's office."

Pappa said county officials are doing their best to ensure that the scandal embroiling Deane does not result in service interruptions in the recorder's office, which records more than 5,000 documents a day, such as marriage and real estate records.

"In a growing community like ours, the work of that office is very important," Pappa said.

Besides a voter recall, there is no mechanism for removing Deane from office unless she is charged with a crime and is removed under the state's misconduct by a publitc official statute.

Las Vegas police Deputy Chief Mike McClary, who is overseeing the Deane probe, said Tuesday that police are aware of the difficulties county officials face in Deane's return to work while it is publicly known she is under criminal investigation.

"We understand all the challenges and we're moving forward as fast as we can," McClary said.

"But we are going to be thorough in the interest of the community."