Nye administrator blames sheriff for his legal problems

Shaunta Grimes

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 11:02 a.m.

Nye County Public Administrator Robert "Red" Dyer and his wife, Jennette Dyer, who spent the weekend in hiding, posted bail on Wednesday and have returned to their Pahrump home.

Robert Dyer, Nye County public administrator since January, and Jennette Dyer, former assistant public administrator, left town Friday when they caught wind of charges being filed against them. They did not want to be arrested at the end of last week and spend the long, holiday weekend waiting for a judge to set bail, Ted Marshall, the couple's Las Vegas attorney, said.

The Dyers' bails were set at $30,000 each, and on Wednesday they posted bond, making it possible for them to return home rather than be arrested.

The charges against the couple allege that they used and sold items belonging to Nye County residents who died without wills, the estates of which the Dyers were responsible for administering. The Dyers, who appeared in their attorney's office Wednesday, denied all charges.

Robert Dyer attributes the problems he is having to not being one of Nye County's "good old boys." The Dyers say they have been harassed and threatened by Nye County Sheriff Wade Lieseke.

Robert Dyer said Lieseke has been undermining his authority as public administrator, refusing to report Nye County deaths to his office and going to the family of deceased residents, allowing them to take belongings prematurely.

Jennette Dyer said Lieseke frightened her badly by pulling her van over and telling her that if she did not stop efforts to get him recalled she "wouldn't end up alive." Robert Dyer also said he has received death threats from Lieseke.

"I find myself in the ludicrous position of defending myself against people who are defending themselves on felony charges," Lieseke said this morning.

Lieseke said the Dyers have never been threatened by him or any employee of the sheriff's office. He said a search warrant for the couple's home issued Wednesday turned up more evidence, although he would not elaborate on what his officers had found.

The sheriff's office has attempted to notify Dyer of all Nye County deaths, but Dyer doesn't always return pages, Lieseke said.