Opening statements begin in ex-police officer’s trial

Maurice Carroll (Las Vegas Review-Journal photo)

Opening statements began Wednesday morning in the trial of  Maurice Carroll, the owner of an unlicensed process-serving company accused of filing false court affidavits.

Carroll,  a 42-year old former Las Vegas police officer, faces 17 counts of perjury, 17 counts of offering false instruments for filing or record and one count of obtaining money under false pretenses.

He is alleged to have submitted false affidavits on May 13 and June 13 in civil cases involving one of his clients, debt collector Richland Holdings.

    Police are still investigating Carroll and his company, On Scene Mediations, and Las Vegas Justice Court officials are worried that fallout from Carroll's actions may be far greater on Nevadans and the court system.

    Officials are looking to hire a special hearing master to review some 25,000 default cases linked to companies that hired On Scene Mediations to serve court papers. The County Commission on Tuesday approved $60,000 to fund the position.

In District Court, the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada has filed a class-action lawsuit against Carroll and another one of his former clients, Rapid Cash, alleging false affidavits also were submitted in cases brought by Rapid Cash.