Resident seeks removal of Carson sheriff, DA

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:46 a.m.

Under a seldom-used state law, Rolland Weddell filed a complaint seeking to oust Sheriff Rod Banister and District Attorney Noel Waters, as well as several sheriff's deputies and a deputy prosecutor.

The complaint stems from a dispute over Weddell's arrest on a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of aiming a weapon at another person in October.

Weddell claims he drew a gun to make a citizen's arrest of Jamie Bustamonte on Oct. 17. Thinking Bustamonte was drawing a weapon, Weddell fired several shots at him.

Weddell claims he attempted the arrest after Bustamonte and his brother, John Bustamonte, kidnapped and threatened Weddell's daughter Kellie over a drug debt on Oct. 16. But no charges have been filed against the brothers.

Weddell filed the complaint under a Nevada law that allows the public to seek the removal of officials for malfeasance and negligence in office.

Waters said he knows Weddell "is unhappy because of his present criminal charges against him. He was real mad because we had not and have not charged this particular person."

Waters added a complaint such as Weddell's "kind of comes with the job. I think in due course, you are going to take actions that irritate someone."

A District Court hearing on the complaint is scheduled for April 1.

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