Jury handed CSN theft case involving building materials

Whether a former College of Southern Nevada official stole college material and equipment to build his home near Mount Charleston will now be decided by a Clark County jury.

The prosecution and the defense delivered closing arguments Monday in the theft trial of former CSN associate vice president William "Bob" Gilbert. The jury will begin deliberating today .

Gilbert is on trial for 11 felony counts of theft. Authorities allege that Gilbert and three co-defendants took construction-grade material and equipment from the college so that Gilbert could build his house near Mount Charleston and that the co-defendants worked on the house when they should have been working on campus.

His defense team says Gilbert was using the material and equipment for college-related projects and had the authority to do so given to him by a former CSN president.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen reminded the jury of the material and equipment found on Gilbert's property, including pallets of cinder block, a chain hoist, a paint sprayer, a forklift and a scissor lift.

"The evidence just keeps adding up. This isn't just an isolated incident. It takes it out of the realm of coincidence," Hafen said. "That house was built on the back of college material and equipment."

Hafen said when state investigators served a search warrant on Gilbert's property there were fewer pallets of cinder block than when investigators first went to speak to Gilbert months earlier. And a building being constructed on the property was further along in progress, Hafen said.

Defense attorney Brent Bryson said the pallets of cinder blocks were part of a swap with the college because Gilbert had used his own cinder blocks to finish a college project.

Bryson said the state's case was based on assumptions.

"You don't get tossed in jail because of assumptions," he said.

Bryson reminded the jury that former CSN president Ron Remington testified he gave Gilbert permission to do construction work, including welding, at the lower Kyle Canyon residence because the college did not have the space or facilities for the work on campus.

Gilbert did what he did, "with the college presidents' approval, ratification and full knowledge. Gilbert relied upon that knowledge, and that authority and that permission," Bryson said.

Bryson added that no witness called by the prosecution said that any material or equipment was missing from the college or that materials were being used by Gilbert for a noncollege purpose.

"We don't have anyone from the college complaining. The alleged victim all through this indictment is not complaining because they were reaping the benefits for years for what Mr. Gilbert was doing," Bryson said.

Bryson said Gilbert was using his own equipment, material and money to complete college construction projects on time and under budget.

Hafen argued that everything flowed through Gilbert and asked how could others have known whether he had stolen anything. "He had motive and opportunity," Hafen said.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.