Judge files response in sex case

Family Court Judge Nicholas Del Vecchio on Thursday denied he sexually abused a woman when she was a minor and stated, through attorneys, that he never sexually harassed her as an adult.

In a response filed Thursday with the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission, Del Vecchio's attorneys also said that the embattled judge didn't make racially and sexually offensive remarks to employees.

Del Vecchio never called a Hispanic bailiff a "lazy Mexican" or made sexually explicit comments about female court employees, lawyers and judges, the attorneys said.

However, if Del Vecchio had, the comments "would have been said in jest, and in a joking manner," documents stated.

In February, the special prosecutor for the Judicial Discipline Commission filed a 38-count civil complaint against Del Vecchio accusing him of taking nude photos of his former judicial assistant and sexually abusing her when she was a minor.

The complaint accuses Del Vecchio of coercing her into having a sexual relationship when she worked as his judicial assistant and retaliating against her when she wanted to end the relationship.

The woman, identified in the complaint as Rebeccah Murray, filed a civil lawsuit against Del Vecchio in March, accusing him of assault, invasion of privacy and other charges. She is asking for more than $50,000 in damages.

Del Vecchio said that his relationship with Murray was consensual and that he was in love with her.

Del Vecchio is running for re-election. He was elected to the bench in 2000.

Only the Judicial Discipline Commission has the authority to remove a sitting judge. The commission has not yet taken action against Del Vecchio and he remains on the bench.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.