Constable faces ethics review

CARSON CITY -- The state Ethics Commission will consider whether a constable from the Goodsprings Township violated state law by failing to turn in funds collected from a wage garnishment in a timely manner.

A panel of the commission decided to forward the case of Constable Lon Itson for a full hearing after finding probable cause for a review.

Itson collected the wage garnishment from July through November of 2004 but did not remit the funds to the creditor until late 2007.

Commissioners James Kosinski and Rick Hsu recommended the hearing after Itson failed to provide information sought in a subpoena and because his responses were inconsistent with documents that had been submitted.

The hearing is set for March 13.

The commission will consider whether Itson used his position to secure unwarranted advantages for himself and whether he used government time or property for his personal benefit.

The panel dismissed the allegation that Itson inappropriately accepted private compensation for performing his duties as constable.

A report by Ethics Commission staff also recommended that if the commission finds that Itson committed a willful violation of state law and believes the violation may constitute a criminal offense, that the matter should be referred to the district attorney to determine whether a crime has been committed that warrants prosecution.

The request for an opinion was submitted by Jayda Cooke in October 2007.

Cooke said the wage garnishment was filed against an employee of the Nevada Landing Hotel and Casino in 2004.

Itson collected the garnishment but never turned it over.

Itson said in February 2006 he erroneously sent $1,400 in funds to a different creditor by mistake.

But by September 2007, Cooke had still not received the funds from Itson.

Cooke finally received all the funds by December 2007, but only after the complaint had been submitted to the Ethics Commission.