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Former North Las Vegas police officer pleads guilty
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Dec. 8, 2009 | 8:12 p.m.
A former North Las Vegas police officer accused of trying to gain sexual favors, including oral sex, from women he cited for traffic violations pleaded guilty today to five gross misdemeanors.
James Vernon Clayton begrudgingly said he was guilty of each count as District Judge James Bixler read them to him.
Clayton pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted misconduct by a police officer and two counts of oppression under color of office.
Clayton could receive probation or a maximum of five years in jail.
Authorities have said there were at least five victims.
One victim alleged that, over the course of a few weeks, Clayton pulled her over twice, ran into her at a mall and went to the strip club where she worked and requested a lap dance from her.
Other victims said he would call, send text messages or show up at their home and work.
Another victim said Clayton exposed himself to her.
A month ago, Clayton told Bixler he did not do the acts described in the plea agreement.
At the time, Bixler ordered the matter continued for prosecutors and a defense attorney to work out any issues.
Today, with his hands shaking and taking a long moment before answering, Clayton admitted his guilt.
At one point, he tried to argue over the particulars, telling Bixler he did not recognize the name of one of his accusers.
Bixler asked Clayton if he recognized the criminal act that was described, and the former police officer agreed.
Clayton is scheduled to be sentenced May 18. He is out of custody on $73,000 bond.
The former police officer was arrested a year ago after a five-month investigation and originally was charged with seven felonies of police misconduct and misdemeanor lewdness.
Clayton was a three-year veteran of the department when he was charged. He was fired in January.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
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To P 05365...
You're right... NLVPD is a lot different than Metro. Northtown actually investigates wrongdoing by its officers. Northtown fires those commit crimes or bold faced lie to their superiors, like LVMPD farce Stu Bowman. NLVPD charged him with and made him answer for his crimes.
To Gordon...
As a former reserve deputy sheriff, I share your disgust. Trouble is, I see that to many local LEO's things like Constitutional Rights, probable cause, and basic regard for life and limb are mere annoyances to be disregarded at whim.
To: The cop haters and the uninformed taxpayer.
I'm not surprised at the venom that is sprayed out regarding articles like this involving former employees of the police force that have broken the law. If you have all noticed I did not use the word "Cop", "Former Cop", "Ex-cop", "Ex-police officer", any reference that denotes that this person was ever a "Police Officer", or anything close to it. When these terms are used it implies that at some point in their career they were real cops, abiding by the Oath they swore to, and then somewhere down the line changed and committed a crime.
Well Folks, I don't buy it. Employees that worked for the police dept in the capacity of a police officer were never "Cops",and never would or could be. They were persons that were predisposed to break the law before they were hired and then used their position and authority in the capacity of a police officer to complete their crime.
To me they are the lowest form of animal, more so than, the criminal Pastor of a church, criminal fireman, criminal scout leader, criminal doctor, criminal lawyer, criminal priest, criminal social worker, etc, etc.
As you can tell I am rather passionate about my chosen profession of 36 years of Law Enforcement. Anyone and I mean anyone that Swears that Oath to "Protect and Serve" and breaks that Oath, deserves much more than the maximum penalty that the Law provides.
Just an old cop reflecting,
Gordon Martines
Have to search the FOX archives and find out if this guy was ever on COPS.
Throw him in the hole where he belongs, anything less will look like favortism