Ad: Rival ‘defends child rapists’

Nevada state Senate candidate Elizabeth Halseth launched a campaign ad that accuses her incumbent opponent of "defending child rapists."

The radio ad by Halseth, a first-time candidate, attacks incumbent Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, saying he testified as a character witness for the defense in the 2008 trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in 2004.

The accused friend of Nolan's, Gordon Joseph Lawes, who was 26 at the time of the trial, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years. Lawes, who according to the Nevada Department of Corrections is incarcerated in Lovelock, is appealing the conviction.

Halseth's ad features Tim Anderson, the victim's father, who says, "What kind of a person defends a child rapist who sexually assaults our kids?"

Anderson goes on to say, "Tell him that defending child rapists is not OK."

David McGowan, Halseth's campaign manager, said he bought 49 spots on the conservative talk radio station KXNT-AM, 840 in Las Vegas. He said the ad started running Monday and will run about 10 times per day through Friday.

Nolan calls the ad an "act of desperation by a candidate who has nothing else to offer of substance."

Nolan knew Lawes as a former campaign volunteer and friend, and said he was compelled by subpoena to testify.

"I was asked to come in and testify strictly on what I knew about Mr. Lawes' character," Nolan said.

He said he still believes Lawes' testimony that the sex was consensual.

"I would not have testified if I didn't believe in his innocence," Nolan said. News accounts from the trial said Lawes admitted having sex with the teen, who was described as "passed out drunk."

Nolan said that Lawes used bad judgment but that his behavior fell short of sexual assault.

"It was something he never should have been involved with this young person in the first place," Nolan said. "He admitted it happened; it was a question of consensuality."

The legal age of consent in Nevada is 16.

Halseth is challenging Nolan in the Republican primary for Senate District 9 in Clark County. The winner will face one of three candidates campaigning in the Democratic primary: Sharona Dagani, Steven Saxe and Benny Yerushalmi.

Political consultants had mixed responses to Halseth's ad.

Ryan Erwin, a Republican consultant, called the subject matter fair but said he hadn't heard audio so he couldn't judge the presentation.

"If it is true ... it is fair," Erwin said.

Democratic consultant Jim Ferrence agreed that the subject matter is fair but said he thought the presentation was inappropriate and could backfire on Halseth.

"They took the most vile approach they could with the copy," he said. "The language they are using is going to have the opposite of the intended effect."

Neither Erwin nor Ferrence was surprised that Nolan's testimony in the case came back to haunt him in a campaign ad.

"Everybody from the day he testified -- even he -- knew there would be repercussions," Ferrence said.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@
reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.