Files seized at CCSN campuses

The Nevada attorney general's office served search warrants at two campuses of the Community College of Southern Nevada on Wednesday, seizing files, records and computers.

The seizures are part of an investigation into construction contracting, authorities said.

Authorities also served search warrants at a home and a construction company, WGDL Inc., a source with the attorney general's office said.

CCSN spokeswoman Helen Clougherty said the search warrants were used to seize computers, files, permits, and records on construction, maintenance and renovation activities.

Evidence was taken from the office of Bob Gilbert, who is chief of construction for CCSN. The Cheyenne campus's finance and budget office was closed off after the search.

Clougherty said she did not know whether the search warrant was based on a criminal accusation.

Local media reports have contained allegations that Gilbert inappropriately hired college contractors to help build his home.

Gilbert has denied the accusations. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

A statement released by the college said CCSN was cooperating with the attorney general's office.

"CCSN has been fully cooperative with prior records requests from the Attorney General and was surprised by today's unannounced action," the statement said.

The secretary of state's office said WGDL Inc. is a Henderson-based corporation.

The resident agent and president of WGDL is Gary L. Hafen of Henderson. When reached late Wednesday and asked about the search, Hafen said he had no comment.

WGDL lists Las Vegan Warren Hafen as a director of the corporation. Warren Hafen said he was not sure what the investigation was about.

"We cooperated fully," Warren Hafen said when asked about the search. "We gave them everything they asked for. As far as we know everything (WGDL's work for CCSN) was aboveboard. We are kind of wondering what's going on. We hope this is over real quick because this is a real pain."

Warren Hafen said the daily operation of the business, which has been up and running since 2001, has been disrupted because of the investigation. He added that the state seized computers and documents from the company's offices.

WGDL also lists Las Vegans Lloyd Hafen as secretary and treasurer and Dave Wilson as a director. Neither could be reached Wednesday.

CCSN President Richard Carpenter said late Wednesday that he would be surprised if the attorney general's investigation turned up anything. Carpenter said that at his behest, CCSN police conducted their own investigation into Gilbert several months ago, and "we didn't find anything."

Carpenter said the allegations against Gilbert came from disgruntled employees.

Carpenter said he is hoping the state's investigation will bring closure to the issue.

"My thinking is that this (state investigation) will one way or the other do that so we can stop wasting our time and energy on this one thing," he said.