Metro cop charged with Idaho bribery

Keith Paul

Friday, April 14, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

A Metro Police lieutenant is charged with bribery stemming from a June traffic stop in Idaho where he allegedly offered $2,000 to a state trooper to avoid a drunken driving arrest.

Lt. Larry Spinosa, 44, must appear in Cascade, Idaho, in May for an initial appearance and then a preliminary hearing to determine if he will face a trial on the charge of bribery of a law enforcement official -- a felony punishable by one to 14 years in prison, said Richard Roats, Valley County prosecuting attorney.

The felony charge filed Tuesday comes nearly a year after Spinosa was stopped in Valley County near McCall, Idaho, by Trooper Tim Horn and charged with driving under the influence. Spinosa later pleaded guilty to that charge and a Metro Internal Affairs investigation determined Spinosa's conduct in the matter was unbecoming of an officer.

But at the time Metro Police say they didn't know of a videotape of the traffic stop that showed an apparently intoxicated Spinosa slurring his speech and allegedly attempting to bribe the trooper. Roats didn't decide to file charges until a few weeks after the videotape became public.

Roats defended the delay in filing charges, saying he is the only prosecutor for his small county and has been busy with other matters.

"I can tell you that no one has been putting any pressure (to file charges)," Roats said. "I have known about (the tape and the bribery allegation) since the beginning, and the matter has been under advisement."

But Metro didn't know about the tape until about two weeks ago. Since then Spinosa has been put on administrative leave with pay and another Internal Affairs investigation has been started.

If Spinosa is convicted of the bribery charge, he could no longer be employed by Metro, said Lt. Marc Joseph, a department spokesman. Joseph said no officer who is convicted of a felony can stay on the force.

Roats said he will not seek to impose bail on Spinosa, instead allowing him to remain free on his own recognizance. If there is a trial, it will most likely not occur until September or October, he said.

Roats chided Metro for not asking for the tape when the state trooper's report indicates a videotape was made.

"I never talked to them. Had they contacted me I would have happily provided the tape," Roats said. "How the heck can you do an investigation and not have the tape? All they had to do was watch the thing."

On the tape Spinosa pulls out his Metro badge and shows the trooper. An act Roats said was done to get preferential treatment from the trooper.

The trooper then put Spinosa through a sobriety test, which he failed. Inside the trooper's car the videotape records Spinosa talking with the trooper.

"Can I ask you a question? Can I just give you two grand? You know, I don't need a DUI on my arrest record," he said.

"No, I'm sorry," Horn said.

"Yeah I know. You're sorry. Yeah, forget about it."

Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said Metro investigators requested copies of information about the case and were not forwarded the tape. At the time, Spinosa admitted to the DUI.

Keith Paul covers crime and public safety for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4057 or by e-mail at keith@lasvegassun.com