Monday, June 17, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Brooks Compton, who is making ethics an issue in his bid to unseat County Commissioner Paul Christensen, was involved in a badges-for-cash scheme that brought down former Las Vegas Constable Don Charleboix.
Compton bought a deputy constable commission from the constable for $300 -- then turned it in and got immunity in exchange for testimony that helped indict Charleboix on misconduct and bribery charges.
Testifying before a grand jury then, Compton gave this reason for buying the badge: "Cops don't give cops tickets. Status symbol. I could carry my pistol."
Today, the 31-year-old Compton chalks it up to a youthful mistake.
"I was just a young guy that thought having a badge was neat," Compton said over the weekend. "I was a young man, mistakes were made. When I realized what was going on, I immediately informed the appropriate authorities."
Compton said he stood by his former testimony: "That was the truth. Cops don't give cops tickets. That was the enticement to draw me in."
Compton recently criticized Christensen and county officials for trying to buy off a man who got into an altercation with Christensen 3 1/2 years ago outside the old commission chambers at the county's Bridger Building.
Rick Bell spent almost two years writing letters to the county demanding $20,000 to prevent him from suing Christensen, before hiring attorney Robert Kossack to send the county a demand letter for $14,600 and a copy of the complaint in December 1994.
While trying to negotiate a settlement before the suit was filed, Chief Deputy District Attorney Janson Stewart suggested giving Bell a $25,000 one-year paralegal position if Bell dropped the lawsuit.
"They came up with a lot of settlements," Christensen said. "I said no way, he's going to court."
Before Bell could reject the offer, newly elected District Attorney Stewart Bell (no relation) discouraged pursuing it further, and Bell filed his suit Jan. 31, two days before the statute of limitations ran out, asking for more than $500,000 in punitive and compensatory damages.
The case was dismissed with prejudice eight months later after the county agreed to pay $3,000 for Bell's attorney's fees when Stewart discovered the Internal Revenue Service had a tax lien against Bell.
Twice in the past two years, Bell has called the SUN saying he had a letter from Stewart outlining the job offer, but backed off when the SUN demanded to see the letter. Bell admitted his attorney advised him not to discuss the letter, but decided to dredge it up last week to "get back" at Christensen.
Compton said the county's job offer was typical of the ethics problems and backroom dealings that have been going on for years to sweep problems under the rug.
"The issue is how matters such as these are treated and how citizens such as these are treated," said Compton, one Christensen's two challengers in the Sept. 3 Democratic primary.
Compton agreed those comments made his own past problems fair game, and discussed them openly.
In 1993, Compton was one of 11 men granted immunity in exchange for testimony that led to Charleboix's indictment on charges of bribery, filing false campaign reports, theft, embezzlement and fraudulent use of property.
Charleboix eventually pleaded guilty to two lesser misdemeanor charges: misconduct for using a public account as a slush fund and malfeasance for filing false campaign records. He was fined $4,000, forced to make $1,000 in restitutions and immediately resigned as constable.
Compton and others testified that deputy constable commissions were available for a price -- $500 for a deputy constable, $300 extra for a sergeant's badge, and an extra $500 for a lieutenant's commission.
When Compton found out others at the used car dealership where he worked in 1988 had badges, he asked how he could get one. "They told me I had to pay the constable," he testified.
But first Compton tried using his family name to get a badge for free. His mother, Shari Compton, ran Nevada's Consumer Affairs Division until her 1990 resignation amid controversy surrounding her ties with a telemarketing firm shut down by federal authorities.
That investigation was ended when Shari Compton resigned.
When Compton's boss, Steve Weiss, said Charleboix wanted his money, Compton wrote a check in exchange for a letter from Charleboix authorizing the purchase of the badge -- which cost an extra $150.
Under oath, Compton said he knew he was buying the commission and the badge, which included a concealed weapons permit. He admitted to the grand jury that he never once put on a uniform, delivered papers or worked for the constable.
Today, Compton said he thought he was donating money to Charleboix's re-election campaign in exchange for the badge.
The constable is an elected, self-sufficient office that serves eviction notices and other legal documents.
This fall marks the first time in six years that voters will have a chance to vote for the Las Vegas constable, after former Councilman Bob Nolen was appointed to replace Charleboix. Nolen is facing eight challengers.
Charleboix sent a deputy around to get Compton's badge back once the investigation started, Compton said, but he had already turned it in to the FBI.
Charleboix then contacted insurance agent Peggy Summerfield about reports he'd gotten from other people that Compton was collecting donations without his authorization, "and failing to deliver."
Charleboix asked Summerfield to file a lien on Compton's surety bond, a prerequisite for the constable commission and gun permit.
Summerfield sent a letter to Compton's bonding agent relaying the information, which in turn prompted a four-year libel suit against her and her company. Compton's lawsuit and subsequent appeal were dismissed.
Compton said it was a confusing time, following on the heels of his parents' divorce and his graduation from college when he was trying to decide what to do with his life.
He said he followed his love of cars and racing (with a list of traffic tickets to prove it) into auto sales, but now works in his family's printing business.
"I stood up (to Charleboix), and I worked hard to make something for my life," Compton said, confident that this issue won't hurt his election chances. "Some people are doing everything they can to impugn my character, but I will not go away."
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