Mills, ex-U.S. attorney, dies

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 11:27 a.m.

Lamond Mills, a colorful U.S. attorney for Nevada who during the 1980s oversaw the convictions of crooked politicians and considered himself just "a good ol' country boy," died today of cancer at his Las Vegas home. He was 62.

Services for Mills, a Vietnam War hero who was U.S. attorney for Nevada from 1981 to 1985, will be noon Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel at 3300 N. Buffalo Drive. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Mills at the time of his death was a member of the Colorado River Commission and was in private practice with his sons at the firm of Mills and Mills LLC.

He was U.S. attorney during a turbulent time when top local political leaders were brought down in the Operation Yobo bribery sting. Those convicted during Mills' tenure were powerful state Sen. Floyd Lamb, County Commissioners Jack Pettiti and Woodrow Wilson and state Sen. Gene Echols.

However, Mills didn't always see eye to eye with FBI agent-in-charge Joe Yablonsky, who spearheaded Operation Yobo, and once called Yablonsky "an embarrassment."

During his years as U.S. attorney, Mills was not afraid to anger his bosses in Washington, once proclaiming he would have fugitive brothel owner Joe Conforte arrested if he returned to the United States from South America to testify against then-U.S. District Judge Harry Claiborne.

Mills was accused of defying an agreement made by his bosses in their efforts to convict Claiborne on tax evasion. After Conforte gave testimony considered not believable and the first Claiborne trial ended in a hung jury, Washington officials apologized to Mills. Claiborne was prosecuted again without Conforte and was convicted.

U.S. Magistrate Lawrence Leavitt, who served briefly as Mills' chief assistant, called Mills a "man of great integrity."

"He did not try cases as U.S. attorney, but he was an outstanding trial lawyer," Leavitt said. After returning to private practice he practiced criminal law, Leavitt said.

Leavitt said that while "Lamond did not fit the prototype of a slick, sophisticated U.S. attorney, he grew into the job. But the fact of the matter is that his folksiness made him a great trial lawyer. He was a great communicator."

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a criminal defense attorney when Mills was U.S. attorney, called him "A wonderful human being No. 1 and a great lawyer No. 2."

"As U.S. attorney for Nevada, he was always a straight shooter," said Goodman, who served on the Colorado River Commission with Mills. "He gave everyone a level playing field. He never picked on anyone.

"As a defense attorney, he was very colorful in cross-examination and closing arguments -- an imposing figure in the courtroom. He was a great Nevadan."

A fourth-generation Nevadan, Mills in 1981 described himself to the Sun as "a good ol' country boy."

"I enjoy combat. I enjoy trial work," he said.

Sen. Paul Laxalt hand-picked Mills, a Republican, for the post in 1981. For five years before that he was senior partner in the firm of Mills, Galliher, Lukens, Gibson, Schwartzer & Shinehouse.

Mills earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1967, joined the Army and was an honor graduate from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., a year later.

A first lieutenant, Mills was wounded in combat during the Vietnam War. He received a Bronze Star with a V for valor and oak leaf cluster, a Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Service.

In 1979 he received the Presidential Commendation for Outstanding Community Achievement for Vietnam Era Veterans

After the war Mills earned his law degree from the University of Utah in 1973.

A civic leader, Mills was an Explorer Scout adviser and Scout master and was involved in other youth activities.

He also served as chairman of the Logandale Town Board, member of Moapa Valley Health Services Inc. and the Moapa Fire District Board.

Mills was a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Nevada, the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, the Clark County Bar Association and the Nevada Family Lawyers Association.

His survivors include his wife, Lynne, and four sons, Robert, Byron, Gregor and Brandon, and 13 grandchildren. A complete list of survivors was not immediately available.