Roger banking on work ethic

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002 | 11:19 a.m.

David Roger

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger didn't set out to practice criminal law.

He had worked for a federal bankruptcy judge while in law school and was considering becoming a corporate attorney when he had a chance to watch now-retired Chief Deputy District Attorney Mel Harmon in action.

"Mel was the consummate prosecutor," Roger said. "He was meticulous in his presentation to the jury and he was respected by everyone in the criminal justice system. He has such a high moral character and I aspired to follow in his footsteps."

Now Roger, 41, finds himself vying for the job of Clark County's top prosecutor, running as the Republican against Democrat Mike Davidson and Independent American Joel Hansen for district attorney.

He is running a campaign based on his experience prosecuting cases from street gang members to the highly publicized Binion murder trial.

"I believe a career prosecutor should be the chief law enforcement officer in Clark County, and I don't believe a chief administrator can fill those shoes," he said during an October debate with Davidson. The Democratic candidate holds the No. 2 job in the district attorney's office, a primarily administrative position.

"Is it a career prosecutor you want or is it a person who spent the last five years administrating the civil division?" Roger said in a September debate.

The two agree on many other issues. Both support the death penalty and say they would focus the DA's office on career criminals and cybercrime.

Roger cites as a big influence in his life, his father, Pierre, who he says gave him a strong base to build on.

Pierre Roger was in France when the Germans occupied the country during World War II. He left his homeland to try to catch up to French military leader Charles de Gaulle, who was regrouping in Northern Africa, but Pierre Roger got captured crossing the mountains of Spain.

Roger said his father spent time in a concentration camp until U.S. forces rescued him.

Pierre Roger eventually made his way to the United States and was working as a waiter at the MGM Grand when it first opened. When he retired last year at the age of 79, he was an usher at the Bellagio.

Roger's mother, Rita, 70, was a bank teller.

"My mother and my father instilled in me a strong work ethic and solid morals," Roger said. "I believe in family, and I believe that families are responsible for teaching our children those things, not the schools."

Roger was 13 when his parents moved from Oakland, Calif., to Las Vegas. He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in 1979 and got his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1983.

In 1986 Roger obtained his law degree from the California Western School of Law and went to work for the District Attorney's Office in 1987.

Although best known for prosecuting Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish for the murder of casino figure Ted Binion with fellow prosecutor David Wall, Roger also helped work out the plea agreement that sent Jose Vigoa to prison for the rest of his life.

Vigoa, a serial casino robber, was accused of gunning down two armored truck drivers in Henderson in March 2000.

When not working, Roger said he spends a great deal of time with his 7-year-old nephew Nicholas and 2-year-old niece, Ashley. He also enjoys golfing and spending time with friends.

Roger admits that when he has time to read for pleasure, he usually ends up reading legal materials.

"I love my job as a prosecutor and if I'm not elected, I'll give the next DA 110 percent day in and day out," Roger said.