Complaint filed against Fallon justice of the peace

Friday, Aug. 5, 2005 | 9:29 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A 15-count complaint has been filed by the state Judicial Discipline Commission against Justice of the Peace Daniel Ward of Fallon, accusing him of such things as helping his son get out of jail, fixing traffic tickets and aiding his friends in criminal cases.

Ward has 20 days to answer the complaint filed Wednesday and to request a hearing before the commission.

Special Commission Prosecutor Mary Boetsch, who drafted the charges, accused Ward of refusing to issue a warrant for the arrest of his friend Wes Lattin on sexual molestation charges.

The complaint says a 1993 Lincoln was posted as collateral for $55,000 bail in 2002 for Ruben Rodriguez-Merjias, accused of drug trafficking in Fallon.

It says Ward purchased the vehicle and continued to sit on the case. When Rodriguez-Merjias failed to appear in court, Ward advised the bail bondsman to file a motion to set aside the bail so the car could not be seized, the complaint says.

His son, Sean Ward, was arrested on drug charges and a plea negotiation was reached. The father allegedly arranged a visit between the son and family and then directed his court staff to contact another justice of the peace to release Sean without bail. This was done without notifying the district attorney or the defense lawyer, according to the complaint.

In January 2002, Jeremy Waseta was arrested on charges of drunken driving and at the time was driving a vehicle registered to Ward and his son. Waseta had borrowed the car from the son. A towing charge was incurred. The complaint said Ward was responsible for paying the towing charge. When Waseta pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, the justice of the peace allegedly told Waseta that he must pay the towing charge before he would sentence him.

Ward's son Sean and his girlfriend had a fight and she went to the state Division of Investigation to accuse the son of sexual misconduct with her daughter, the complaint said. The justice of the peace allegedly called the investigation division to intervene, telling investigators that this was an argument between his son and his girlfriend and they were both on drugs.

Ward, according to the complaint, sought to work out a way in a sexual molestation case so that newspaper reporter Marlene Garcia of Fallon, would not know about the hearing in justice court. Ward allegedly complained that Garcia had not been kind to the judge.

In December 2003, the wife of Deputy Sheriff Richard Hickox received a speeding ticket from the Nevada Highway Patrol. The ticket was paid. The complaint said Ward then asked a deputy district attorney to fix the ticket and she refused. Another deputy district attorney fixed the ticket and the justice of the peace reportedly said, "The NHP (Nevada Highway Patrol) has issued another stupid ticket."

The money was refunded to Hickox.

In another case, Meghan Madrigan, a part-time employee of the justice court, received a speeding citation from the highway patrol on her way home. She returned to the courthouse to pay the fine. The complaint said Ward directed the citation be dismissed and Deputy District Attorney Russell Smith agreed to dismiss the case. The complaint says Smith also fixed the ticket in the Hickox case.