A felon linked through family and finances to a family court judge is on the lam.
Advertisement
A bench warrant was issued this week for Thomas Cecrle, who was supposed to report to the Clark County Detention Center on Wednesday for a 90-day stay. He pleaded guilty last year to attempted possession of methamphetamine.
Cecrle, 49, is a friend and former brother-in-law of Family Court Judge Steven Jones.
The judge's campaign finance reports from 1992 to 2004 show a history of debt between the two men. Jones appeared in Justice Court last year to support Cecrle on bad-check charges that were later dismissed.
Jones, who was not present in court Friday, did not return a call from the Review-Journal.
Cecrle's attorney James Oronoz filed Tuesday to postpone the incarceration so that he could try to withdraw Cecrle's guilty plea and get a trial date.
Oronoz told District Judge Elizabeth Halverson that when Cecrle signed the plea, he did not know the charge of attempted drug possession could be handled as a felony and result in incarceration.
Cecrle's other attorney, Jeanne Winkler, had negotiated a deal with the deputy district attorney and understood the charge would be a gross misdemeanor, resulting in probation, according to an affidavit she signed this week.
In cases of attempted possession of a controlled substance, the judge can decide to record the offense as a gross misdemeanor or a felony.
On Feb. 7, Halverson went with the felony and sentenced Cecrle to 90 days in jail, followed by probation.
On the date of Cecrle's sentencing, Winkler asked Halverson to give Cecrle two weeks before he reported to jail so that he could sign off on a business deal, which would have a significant financial benefit for him.
Winkler discussed the details of the deal privately at the bench with Halverson.
Oronoz said he hasn't seen his client since Feb. 16.
When Cecrle did not surrender in court or at the jail Wednesday as ordered, Halverson said she wanted a bench warrant "broadcast" for him.
Review-Journal reporter Lisa Kim Bach contributed to this report.
