Judge Jones’ past decisions weighing heavily on his future

For some longtime observers of the eccentricities of our local justice system, the weight room on the third floor of Family Court long ago came to symbolize the personal style of Judge Steven Jones.

Jones, a former college football player, carved a workout area from a space reserved for future courtrooms. He even provided his own free weights. It had everything but a sign reading, "Jones' Gym."

Although other judges groused about Jones, they didn't challenge him publicly. He was the big man on campus at Family Court.

While a court spokesperson this week said Jones "was instrumental" in getting the gym set up, he wasn't alone in pressing for the workout space. Besides, the Clark County Government Center and Regional Justice Center came equipped with employee exercise facilities. (You have one at your workplace, don't you? If not, you simply must get one - especially at taxpayer expense.)

But the fact courthouse insiders whispered that he was practically the only person who used it during the first years of its existence isn't news.

These days, Family Court marshals and other personnel make use of Jones' gym. The judge, meanwhile, is busy lifting the increasing weight of a federal indictment that charges him and five others with 20 felonies in connection with what authorities allege was a $3 million investment fraud scheme.

It's not like those who've followed Jones' demolition derby of a career didn't sense this was coming. The only question is whether we would live long enough to see him indicted.

More than eight years ago I met Gene Isaacs, the elderly fellow who had fallen under the spell of reputed con man Thomas Cecrle, the judge's ex-brother-in-law. Cecrle had found a big fish in Isaacs, who was persuaded to invest $800,000 in a Mexican resort real estate deal that never quite materialized. The judge, Cecrle and others made liberal use of the company credit card that Isaacs created.

By the time the old man got wise, he had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. He had been fooled by Cercle, he said, but it was the judge who gave him the confidence that the land investment deal was legitimate.

Isaacs is gone now, but Cecrle and Jones maintained their relationship. While some of the felony charges they face reach back many years, other allegations stem from much more recent deals.

Jones' defense team is bound to argue that at least some of the allegations he faces are based on incidents that occurred nearly a decade ago and well outside the statute of limitations. Who knows, maybe that theory will fly.

But it does nothing to diminish the stench of improper behavior draped in a black robe.

Jones' judicial career has been a long series of questionable ethics with Family Court as a backdrop.

As recently as 2011, Jones' relationship with a county prosecutor who practiced in his court became the subject of a complaint by then-District Attorney David Roger to the iceberg-slow Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline.

Now in private practice, Roger observes, "It's apparent that Judge Jones' alleged transgressions will be costly to Family Court. Not only have his actions resulted in financial losses to the court, but he's done significant damage to the judges' reputations. That said, Family Court judges will work hard and will overcome this dark spot on their history."

By running with con men and convicted felons, Jones has embarrassed the court and harmed the credibility of a branch of the local justice system that deals with some of the most sensitive issues in our society. If you think everyone who ever thought they received a raw deal in Family Court isn't closely monitoring developments in the Jones debacle, think again. The indictment alone confirms their most cynical suspicions.

If Jones had any self-awareness, he would resign from the court ahead of trial. That would at least acknowledge he understood he had abused the privilege of his office.

Win or lose at U.S. District Court, Jones' days of throwing his weight around Family Court are over.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Smith