Federal judge opens eyes of jaded journalists, recounts chilling tale

Appointed for life, most U.S. district judges remain so in control on the bench that it's hard to imagine them feeling much outside pressure.

But federal Judge Kent Dawson on Thursday briefly recounted a few of the chilling incidents that occurred during the 2005 trial of Las Vegas tax protester Irwin Schiff.

Dawson spoke during the Nevada Federal Courts Media Conference at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse. The conference was designed "to improve relations and communications" between the court and the press, Chief U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt told the gathering on a day Nevada's federal jurists hung up their robes and talked frankly about some of the challenges facing the court.

During the tax trial, Schiff and his allies used local radio airwaves to drum up support. That effort resulted in the courtroom sometimes being jammed with vocal loyalists of the self-styled tax protester, who eventually was convicted and sentenced in February 2006 to more than 13 years in prison. At one point, a Wyoming man was sentenced to 30 days for contempt to trying to verbally encourage jurors to acquit Schiff.

Around that time, strange things started happening around the courthouse. Court personnel had their tires punctured, and IRS agents found that acid had been splashed on their vehicles.

At one point, Dawson's safety became enough of a concern that he and his wife started traveling with a U.S. marshal escort. The judge was even harassed at his place of worship.

Following the verdict, jurors in the case reported receiving harassing phone calls. A window was broken at the home of at least one juror.

REZKO'S RELIEF: Antoin "Tony" Rezko obviously faces bigger issues now that a jury has found him guilty on 16 felony corruption charges in Chicago, but does this mean Barack Obama's former fundraiser will be able to put off repaying the $450,000 in gambling debts he owes at Caesars Palace and Bally's?

Rezko was convicted of parlaying his connections with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration to shake down companies hoping to do business with the state.

That would never happen here, of course. Surely no one close to state officeholders has wrenches that secure big consulting fees or seal fat business contracts.

Do you think?

While we're on the subject of Rezko, remember this name: Christopher Kelly. Kelly is Blagojevich's former campaign finance chairman and is described by The Associated Press as a "co-schemer" in the Rezko affair who was also the governor's adviser on gambling issues. Kelly's also accused of hiding $1.3 million to pay gambling debts he ran up with Chicago bookies and unidentified Las Vegas casinos.

RAGGIO'S RAGE: Does conservative political firebrand Chuck Muth know what he's doing incurring the wrath of Republican pillar and state Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio?

Muth this week released a study ranking Senate Democrat and current congressional candidate Dina Titus as "more conservative" on many votes than Raggio, the conservative icon.

Is it safe to say Raggio will find a way to punish Muth, who a few months ago changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent?

CRAZY SALE: Can you believe the sale of the controversial Crazy Horse Too topless club still hasn't gone through?

Rick Rizzolo, the club's ousted owner, has been investigated, convicted, sentenced, served his 366-day sentence, and has returned to private life in Las Vegas. It appears the government is out of patience, but haven't I written these words before?

ON THE BOULEVARD: The nuclear power industry has no bigger media cheerleader these days than CNN's Glenn Beck, but is it too much to ask him to properly pronounce "Yucca Mountain?" He calls it "Yook-a." ... Montel Williams knows when to hold 'em, fold 'em, and help 'em, and he'll do that tonight at the Golden Nugget with a celebrity poker tournament to benefit the Montel Williams Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

BOULEVARD II: Project Sunshine, the nonprofit group that provides camping experiences for challenged children, has set up a new home in Sandy Valley at the Kingston Ranch. Owned by local attorney Al Marquis, the ranch recently played host to groups from Child Haven and St. Jude's. ... Three Square, the nonprofit organization devoted to feeding Southern Nevada's needy, continues to expand its facilities with the recent purchase of a 70,000-square-foot building adjacent to its home base at 4190 N. Pecos Road.

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