Process server looking to surrender in false affidavits case

An unlicensed process server charged in what authorities say is a sweeping scheme to submit false affidavits in court is looking to surrender to authorities today.

Maurice Carroll, 41, a former Las Vegas police officer who was fired in 2000 after 10 years on the job, is facing 35 felony charges, including perjury and obtaining money under false pretenses, in the scheme. His process serving company, On Scene Mediations, is alleged to have submitted false affidavits in the valley's justice courts, potentially disrupting the lives and finances of thousands of civil case defendants.

District Judge Joe Bonaventure set a hearing today on a request from Carroll's lawyer, Craig Mueller, to allow Carroll to surrender to police and do a "walk-through" at the Clark County Detention Center without having to post bail.

"I don't see that he's a flight risk," Mueller said.

Mueller added, "My client's take on this is that he didn't do anything wrong. We'll get it sorted out."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Mike Staudaher, who was assigned Monday to prosecute the case, said he would oppose allowing Carroll to go free without bail, given the seriousness of the charges.

Bonaventure set bail at $105,000 last week.

On Scene Mediations, which was run out of Carroll's North Las Vegas home without a state license, is alleged to have filed affidavits swearing that it served defendants with copies of lawsuits, but in many cases papers were not served, police said. That resulted in judgments of default against some defendants because they failed to respond to the lawsuits.