State Ethics Commission clears Shafer

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 | 9:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Ethics Commission has released its opinion learing former Clark County Public Administrator Jared Shafer of allegations that he misused his office to obtain a lucrative private contract to act as an administer of an estate.

The commission, in an opinion issued Tuesday, said it found no evidence that Shafer used his public office to obtain employment as an administrator in the estate of Charles Williams who died at the Silver Ridge Nursing Home in Las Vegas.

Shafer, who served 23 years as public administrator, could not be reached for comment.

Shafer intended to retire at the end of his term that he believed to be on Dec. 31, 2002. He told the ethics commission in a hearing in March this year that he got his final paycheck on Dec. 20 and left on vacation. He did not perform any public duties after Dec. 19.

On Jan. 2, Shafer was contacted by attorney Elyse Tyrell who asked him to become special administrator of the estate of Williams. The out-of-state survivors of Williams needed an in-state administrator in order to obtain the medical records of the dead man to pursue a wrongful death suit.

Tyrell believed that Shafer also was out of office on Dec. 31. But his final day was Jan. 6 2003.

A complaint was filed with the ethics commission against Shafer by Terry Williams and the commission held a hearing in Las Vegas whether the ethics laws were violated.

Those who dealt with Shafer in getting him to act as special administrator also believed his term ended on Dec. 31, 2002.

The ethics commission said there was no evidence to show that Shafer used his public office to secure a benefit for himself. In fact, Shafer never got his $1,000 fee that he billed the estate.

The commission said Shafer was still technically a public officer when he got the contract but both he and others believed he had left office on Dec. 31.

There was no evidence, the commission said, that showed Shafer ever intended to "depart from the faithful and impartial discharge of his public duties" as public administrator.

After he left office he started up a business in Clark County called Professional Fiduciary Services, Inc. He never engaged in this private business as a consultant/fiduciary in estate, trust and guardianship matters from September through December 2002.

The commission said, "Without evidence that a public officer has actually used his public office to secure for or grant to himself a benefit, no provision in the Ethics in Government Law prevents the public officer from preparing to enter private life at the end of his public service."

It said there was no evidence that Shafter "used his position as elected Clark County Public Administrator to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions, or advantages for himself or his private fiduciary business with regard to his activities related to being appointed a special co-administrator in the Charles Williams estate."