Former Nevada prison guard sentenced to probation for misconduct

A former corrections officer at High Desert State Prison has been sentenced to probation for his role in bringing methamphetamine into the prison between August and September 2015, the Nevada attorney general’s office announced Wednesday.

The former officer, Ronald Henderson, pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of misconduct of a public officer.

Clark County District Judge Stefany Miley sentenced Henderson on Monday to a maximum of five years’ probation. As a condition of his probation, he must serve 30 days at the Clark County Detention Center.

According to the attorney general’s office, Henderson participated in a plan to smuggle 12.7 grams of methamphetamine for an inmate in the prison. The plot was uncovered by the Nevada Department of Corrections’ office of the inspector general through the surveillance of inmate phone calls.

The case was prosecuted by Attorney General Adam Laxalt’s special prosecutions division.

“The defendant placed personal greed above both the health and safety of his fellow employees, as well as the public he was sworn to protect,” Laxalt said in a statement. “My office will continue to partner with other state agencies in an effort to bring individuals who commit these crimes to justice, and ensure the safety of Nevada’s prisons and the public.”

Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find @WesJuhl on Twitter.