Inmate will leave prison with $50,000 of state’s money

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005 | 8:16 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A 50-year-old state prison inmate will have walking-around money when he completes his 20-year term on Christmas Eve.

Inmate Michael Epstein, serving time for kidnapping and sexual assault, sought $300,000 on grounds the prison authorities denied him visits from his wife.

While in prison in Ely, he married a prison nurse. But the prison refused to allow contact visits.

Stanley Miller, tort claims manager for the state attorney general's office that handled the claim, said prison officials had security concerns. He said the woman had been caught trying to smuggle in contraband and also trying to steal medical records.

Miller said she was fired by the company that supplied medical care at the maximum security prison in Ely. Even after she was fired she was not allowed contact visits, he said.

Epstein, who committed his crime in Washoe County, also had disciplinary problems in prisons including being tested positive for drugs, Miller said.

The attorney general's office worked out a settlement for $49,999 for Epstein. But $157 was added for interest. Since the amount exceeded $50,000, it had to be approved by the state Board of Examiners, which agreed Tuesday to the settlement.

Cy Ryan can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or at cy@lasvegassun.com.