Lawyer doubts crossed-wire claim

Keith Paul

Tuesday, May 9, 2000 | 11:30 a.m.

A lawyer for Billy Walters says Metro Police are covering up a wiretap by claiming a loose wire crossed the telephone lines of the defense attorneys in the money-laundering case.

"I think they have no choice but to cover it up," said Walters' lawyer Richard Wright Monday night on "POV Vegas" the Sun's public affairs discussion show on Las Vegas ONE.

"I really didn't expect them to admit that they were listening illegally to phone calls. That's a felony. If I can prove it, I will do my best to see they are prosecuted federally as well as in the state of Nevada," Wright said.

Deputy Chief Mike Hawkins, Metro's spokesman on the case, could not be reached for comment this morning. Other calls to Metro officials seeking comment were referred to Hawkins.

Hawkins has said there are no illegal wiretaps involved in the case. A high-ranking Metro official, who requested anonymity, also has told the Sun detectives have no legal or illegal wiretaps in place relating to the case.

Wright said he has a recording of a conversation between two police employees with one of them saying he thought he stumbled into a wiretap of one of the lawyers' offices.

A Metro Police report states the recording is of a conversation between Detective Russ White, director of Secret Witness, and police technician Dianne Deiss. White said he believed he stumbled onto a wiretap and asked that Deiss check to see if the Intelligence unit was conducting one.

Before that call, White was talking with another man and thought he found his way into a wire tape when he heard a woman on the line who stated she was with an attorney's office which represented Billy Walters.

According to the report, Metro officials believe the conversations bled over the phone due to crossed telephone lines.

"I think our theory (of a wiretap) is more plausible than their far-fetched theory," Wright said. "It's clear to me those are police officers talking, and they are acknowledging they have knowledge of an existing wiretap on the attorneys for Billy Walters."

Walters, who was also on "POV Vegas," said he doubts Metro's explanation.

"I have no doubts whatsoever that there is no innocent explanation regarding this wiretap," Walters said. "If there is any innocent explanation, why haven't they come forward and given that innocent explanation?"

Walters, who is currently under an indictment along with two others, said he has not been able to talk with his attorney in Wright's office because of the wiretap allegations.

"We've had to have meetings outside of Mr. Wright's office once we heard of this because, quite candidly, neither one of us believe that we can have a meeting in his office in a confidential manner," he said.

A hearing has been scheduled for May 17 on the motion to dismiss the charges. Information about Metro's explanation of how the conversation became entangled will be discussed. Also, how lawyers obtained a tape of White's conversation should be revealed.

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.