Plea deal for NLV officer rejected

Former North Las Vegas police officer James Vernon Clayton was all set to plead guilty to five gross misdemeanor counts related to police misconduct Thursday, but there was just one catch: He denied ever offering to dismiss traffic tickets he issued to women he pulled over in exchange for sexual favors.

Clayton's attempt to enter guilty pleas was rejected by District Judge James Bixler. Admitting guilt and explaining the circumstances of a criminal act in open court is required when guilty pleas are entered.

Bixler made it clear he could conceivably sentence Clayton to five years in the Clark County Detention Center, or one year for each count.

Clayton, 40, had agreed to plead guilty to three counts of attempted misconduct by a police officer and two counts of oppression under color of office. He was arrested while on duty Dec. 23 and was originally charged with seven felonies and one misdemeanor after a lengthy investigation by the Police Department.

The agreement states that during March and April 2008, Clayton pulled over as many as five women and offered to dismiss their traffic tickets in exchange for sex.

In one incident he is alleged to have exposed himself to a woman. A misdemeanor count of indecent exposure was one of the charges dismissed in the plea.

When asked to explain the nature of the crime, Clayton told Bixler the allegations "are not totally true. I never asked for sex."

Bixler set a status hearing for Dec. 8. If a resolution is not reached, Clayton will be tried on the original charges, which include felony counts of misconduct of an officer and oppression under color of office, as well as misdemeanor lewdness charges.

Prosecutor Giancarlo Pesci said he was not surprised Clayton denied the charges.

"He's been saying he's innocent all along," said Pesci, adding the deal prosecutors offered "won't get any better."

Clayton was a North Las Vegas police officer from 2005 until his employment was terminated Jan. 28.

Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135.