Ex-official’s son, his wife plead guilty

Former Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates' son and daughter-in-law, who were facing child neglect and drug charges, pleaded guilty to one count each of misdemeanor child neglect.

Brian Atkinson-Turner, 25, and Kathryn O'Gara, 26, each pleaded guilty last month and could be sentenced to spend a year locked up in the county jail, according to the plea.

In exchange for the plea, the county district attorney's office dropped other charges against the couple, including misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.

The couple's attorney, Andrew Leavitt, did not return phone calls Thursday seeking comment.

Atkinson-Turner, who is the stepson of District Judge Lee Gates, and O'Gara are scheduled to be sentenced June 9.

Las Vegas police arrested the couple in August after police searched their Southern Highlands home and found a stash of marijuana, a marijuana growing setup and feces on the walls. Police said there was nothing to eat inside the couple's refrigerator except yogurt.

Police went to the house after a caller reported seeing O'Gara driving erratically. The caller followed her black Mercedes to the house.

Leavitt previously said the Metropolitan Police Department's claims weren't true. He said that there was a small amount of dog feces, but that it would be typical of any dog owners who keep their pets indoors.

In January, O'Gara testified that police used heavy-handed tactics when they entered her home.

She said police pointed a gun at her head and at her then 21/2-year-old daughter and swore at her.

The couple also is facing federal charges that they filed a false tax return and didn't file corporate tax returns.

A federal indictment claimed the couple used money from their company, Ad Vibe, to cover car and house payments and were paid about $169,000 from Atkinson Gates' 2004 campaign fund.

The couple's 2004 personal income tax returns listed only $12,523 in income, the indictment stated.

The indictment also said the couple didn't file corporate taxes for Ad Vibe in 2004 and 2005 even though the company earned at least $310,000 in those two years.

Atkinson-Turner and O'Gara both pleaded not guilty to the federal tax charges in March. They could face up to four years in prison and $350,000 in fines each if convicted on all counts.

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