Henderson lieutenant demoted after prostitution arrest

A Henderson police officer arrested in a prostitution sting last year has been demoted after pleading guilty in the case.

Department officials declined comment Thursday other than to confirm that John Coggs, a lieutenant in the department's detention facility at the time of his Sept. 10 arrest on a charge of soliciting or engaging in prostitution, is now a sergeant working in the lockup.

Coggs, 50, who has been with the Henderson department since April 1991, is back to full-time duty after being on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation and the resolution of the criminal charges.

Coggs pleaded no contest in North Las Vegas Justice Court Wednesday to a lesser charge of misdemeanor trespassing.

As part of his sentence he must stay out of trouble for four months, pay a $750 fine and take an AIDS awareness class. If he fulfills those requirements the case will be dismissed.

Coggs' attorney, Michael Castillo, said, "Without admitting guilt, Mr. Coggs agreed to fulfill some relatively minor conditions in order to ultimately obtain a dismissal of the case."

Coggs was arrested after attempting to pick up a female Las Vegas police officer disguised as a "street prostitute," according to his arrest report.

The officer, who was walking near Las Vegas Boulevard North and Craig Road about 7:30 a.m., noticed Coggs watching her as he circled the block in his Cadillac CTS, the report states. He pulled up and told her he wanted fellatio. The officer suggested $40 for the service, but Coggs negotiated a discount to $25, according to the report.

The officer told Coggs to meet her behind a nearby restaurant, the report states. She gave a pre-arranged signal to other officers, who pulled Coggs over at 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. North, near Lamb Boulevard.

After his arrest, Coggs told the Review-Journal he disputed the charges.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.