Moncrief case back before grand jury

Jeff German and Jace Radke

Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004 | 11:11 a.m.

After a six-month break, the state attorney general's office this morning went back to a grand jury with evidence of alleged campaign fraud against City Councilwoman Janet Moncrief.

Moncrief's campaign manager, a former councilman and a teenage campaign worker were the first witnesses to appear this morning.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen abruptly put the grand jury process on hold in February, saying more investigation was needed.

Investigators are looking into allegations Moncrief failed to report $100,000 in campaign contributions during her race with the man she unseated in June 2003, former City Councilman Michael McDonald.

Attempts to reach Moncrief today were not successful.

Hafen showed up at 8:15 this morning to question witnesses before the newly convened county grand jury, which is meeting behind closed doors.

This is the third grand jury to hear testimony in this case.

The first witness this morning was 17-year-old Jenna DiMartini, who confirmed that she worked on Moncrief's campaign. Leaving the site at 9:30 this morning, she declined further comment, saying she had been instructed not to talk about the proceedings.

Officials from the attorney general's office instructed witnesses not to discuss their testimony.

The councilwoman's campaign manager, Tony Dane, also was expected to testify. Dane arrived outside the grand jury room at 8:45 a.m.

Dane has previously told the Sun that the Moncrief campaign used teenage workers but did not report their wages.

"I was called to testify, so I'm here," Dane said. He declined further comment.

Former Las Vegas Councilman Steve Miller showed up at about 9:35 a.m. and also declined comment.

Miller worked to elect Moncrief, then broke with her after the election. He has said he worked on campaign fliers that attacked or misrepresented Moncrief's opponent.