Rhodes’ defense his top priority

Adrienne Packer

Monday, May 8, 2000 | 11:41 a.m.

North Las Vegas City Councilman John Rhodes is less concerned about his bid for Clark County Commission and more concerned about clearing his name after being indicted on two felonies last week.

"I haven't made a final decision" on whether to run for the county board, Rhodes said. "I'm concentrating right now on defending who I am as opposed to looking at who I want to be. That opportunity will always be there; it's not going anywhere"

Rhodes, who has yet to file for the commission race, was accused by a grand jury of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain money under false pretenses, according to the criminal indictment.

The second-term councilman must turn himself in by May 18 and is scheduled to be arraigned on June 1. Rhodes is expected to be released on his own recognizance until the case is resolved in District Court.

The criminal charges stem from a 1998 burglary at his Diana Drive home. Rhodes raised insurance agents' suspicions when he claimed he lost about $10,000 worth of property, then canceled the claim three months into State Farm's probe.

Rhodes has said that during the three-month investigation, he was able to replace the property he lost, which included computer equipment, a television, his sofa and even his washer and dryer. He has also claimed that insurance investigators were harassing his friends.

However, the criminal indictment said the focus of the probe was a set of Callaway golf clubs worth $1,760.

Rhodes had submitted a receipt from Mike's Custom Golf that included a check written by Michael Farino. When State Farm agents questioned Rhodes about the check, he told them Farino had died but his partner Terry Wheaton could verify the check, the court report says.

The attorney general's office, which requested Rhodes' file from State Farm and launched its own investigation in March, claimed Farino is alive.

According to insurance fraud laws, anyone who attempts to obtain money under false pretenses faces a minimum of one year in prison and no more than six years or must pay a fine of at least $10,000.

Rhodes' colleague on the North Las Vegas City Council, Williams Robinson, said members of the board have not discussed Rhodes' indictment.

"I hope and pray that it's all false and he can go on with his life," Robinson said Sunday. "You don't gloat on someone's misfortunes. You just pray it's not true."

Rhodes said he is looking forward to a preliminary hearing, where he can present his side of the story. He said during the grand jury process, only the prosecution explains its side and nothing has to be substantiated.

"I don't want people to feel sorry for me; I don't feel sorry for myself," Rhodes said. "These are things people go through in life. Adversity makes you a better person."

Adrienne Packer covers county government for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2310 or by e-mail at adrienne@lasvegassun.com.