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twitterDoctor who hosted party faces charges
Minors were drinking, and two of them left house in a car, police report says
Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Dr. Rudy Manthei
Sun Archives
- Teen boozing reflects on parents (2-3-2007)
A well-known Nevada doctor has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of two minors who were allegedly provided alcohol at his home.
Dr. Rudy Manthei was scheduled to go to trial on the charges in Henderson Municipal Court today, though it now appears the case will be continued for possible negotiations. Manthei initially pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the May incident, according to court documents. Neither the doctor nor his attorney was available for comment Friday.
Manthei, an ophthalmologist, was named health care adviser to Gov. Jim Gibbons in 2008 and is chairman of Keep Our Doctors in Nevada, a group of medical professionals that most recently opposed a bill seeking to remove a cap on damages for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases. The bill died in the state Senate.
Manthei has also been floated as a potential Republican candidate for state Senate.
Police responding to a complaint of noise at Manthei’s Henderson home just after midnight on May 24 reportedly found teenagers standing in the doctor’s driveway on the verge of a fight. When officers approached, some of the teens ran into the home while others remained outside and told officers that “most of the other juveniles were drinking, but there was an adult inside the residence,” according to the police report.
The report goes on to detail the officer’s interaction with the doctor: Manthei “advised he was supervising his son’s party. Manthei stated he was aware that the juveniles were consuming alcohol, and Manthei himself appeared intoxicated. Manthei advised he had hired two security guards to supervise the juveniles. Manthei stated that the approximately 10 juveniles remaining inside the residence were going to stay the night, and nobody was to drive.”
As the police officer was leaving, however, he observed two teenagers leaving the Manthei home by car.
The officer pulled over the teens, who said they had been drinking at the doctor’s house and failed Breathalyzer tests. They were cited for consuming alcohol, and the doctor was cited with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor.
According to the police report, Manthei “provided minors with alcohol and then allowed them to leave after stating all minors would remain at his residence.”
This case is not the only legal battle Manthei is involved in. In April, 57 local anesthesiologists filed a lawsuit against Seven Hills Surgery Center — which Manthei owns — as well as the surgery center’s management group, alleging Seven Hills Surgery Center violated their contracts.
Discussion: 39 comments so far…
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How dare this Doctor supervise the kid's drinking with guards and taking away their car key; Parent were DENIED the opportunity to be awaken at 3 AM to come to the MORGUE and identify 4 dismembered & burnt beyond belief bodies.
What does a business dispute have to do with this case? This is not reporting this is a hit piece. The doctor should not have hosted a party for minors and should face the consequences but what does a suit against his business from other doctors have to do with anything involved. Typical sun.
"Manthei has also been floated as a potential Republican candidate for state Senate."
Not anymore...
Allowing one's *own* child to drink at home is one thing---serving as the apparent de facto barkeep to a posse of underage drinkers is something else again. Of course, the real scandal here is that the medical board will likely do absolutely zilch even if the "good" doctor is convicted, whereas a lawyer in the same position would be brought up on moral character charges by the state bar--and properly so.
the mention of the business dispute shows the underage drinking case is not the "only legal battle" the doctor is involved in. and like Bill in H says - there goes his political dreams.
Well looks like the doctor will fit right in with the other cheating ,lying,and cover up politicans we have in our country.
Rejco 100,
Not sure where you read that the doctor took away the teens' car keys. The story doesn't say that. And how would that explain that two of the teens then DID drive away (and then failed the breath tests)?
There's always a couple trouble making teens where ever you go!
The United State runs on the Absolute Restrictions & Absolute Tragedy Model.
neiman, More stupidity from you.The article was about Manthei's legal problems regarding underage drinking and it appropriate to mention other legal problems as well. This is a customary and ethical journalism practice,is done everyday. Your petty little argument is made because Manthei is a Republican. If the article was about a Democrat you would be piling it on yourself. You are such nit wit.
Manthei certainly isn't looking out for the kids, is he? Some example you're setting for your children, dad. You owe them (and their friends) an apology and you need to get help for your drinking problem.
Bill in Henderson, what makes you think he is still not a candidate for Senate? Are you oblivious to the process? Do you not see all criminals that are already in the Senate?
Actually the federal government runs the states on blackmail and withholding precious federal founds. Take for example the drinking age of 21: if a state wanted to lower the law to 18 or have minors drink at family homes, then the federal government would take highway funds away from said state. That is why the alcohol, marajuana, or any drug be regulated to the states.
I agree the good doctor would have to have his own drinking problem to even remotely be how he was being about the teens drinking.
IMO, It is classic problem drinker behavior.
Get help, Doc.
I've never seen a doctor in the news as much as this guy. It's one controversy after another with this doctor and frankly, where there's smoke, there's got to be fire. And wouldn't you know it, he's Jim Gibbons' Health Care Advisor...another smart move by our governor. If the governor were smart, he'd be looking at a replacement as soon as possible. I'd stay as far away from Dr. Manthei's practice as I could if I needed eye surgery. Scarry...
It's ok to get wasted and buy booze for kids and then let 'em drive around. After all this is Nevada, and it's so close to anarchy that a few minor character flaws help you fit in here.
You let your kids smoke dope like you did; you let 'em get drunk like you did; you let 'em drive drunk like you did. Hell, let's buy 'em cars and pay for all their insurance, wrecks, tickets and law suits. They'll grow up on their own.
Parents don't have a responsibility to guide or love their offspring. Just fund their adventures and get them off the hook when they get caught. Nothing matters, and what if it did???
I think if your old enough to die in war you should be able to have an adult beverage.
Spock has something.
We need your energy, blood, thoughts and life, but you're too young to have a cold one. What's wrong with this picture?
Either treat me fair or leave me alone. When Roman soldiers conquered the world, they would enjoy a bit of the grape, the poppy or whatever! Do you think they got 'carded'? Would you card a Roman soldier?
airweare has such intelligent and inspiring perspective to offer..."Parents don't have a responsibility to guide or love their offspring"...yikes!
By allowing them to have their fund in a supervised environment, it sounds like Dr. Manthei was performing a public service. The police getting involved is very unfortunate.
Hey Sun reader. I would like to direct you to Webster's to look up the word "sarcasm".
If the medical profession isn't spreading hepatitis or subscribing lethal doses they're inebriating our youth.
It's all an experiment -- and we're the guinea pigs.
And this guy holds himslef out to be an ethical eye doctor that only wants to represent us in the senate?? The osteopathic board should take his licnese. I still think there is a clause about moral tupitude in describing unprofessional conduct. Look up the word "scumbag" with brother Webster and you'll see the same picture as above. Hopefully his political aspirations are shot, but history doesn't bode well for that.
Jail. Go to jail!
What do you not understand about the law? Doctor?
As for the previous poster, if they are old enough to go to war...., fine, I agree. That is to say no one, not a single kid under 21 should be asked or required to GO TO WAR.....unless and until that war comes home to us then we will all be taking up arms.
Well now the picture is coming clear...Poor Jim Gibbons had his eyes goofed up by his friend, the good doctor, and saw what he thought was an angel/hooker/Dr.'s wife and tried to boink her in the parking lot thinking he was doing the right thing.
That was the doctor's fault too.
Just RAISING a kid in Las Vegas is contributing to the delinquency of a minor!
If the doctor supplied alcohol to my underage children, he'd be facing more than just contributing to the delinquency of two minors. I'd file a lawsuit -- and I hope the parents of the kids who left his home drunk do!
this was common when i was a kid...not good but very common
Back when i was a kid it was common for the doctor to make the liquor!
I have known Dr. Manthei for over 15 years as a professional colleague. He is an extremely well respected physician and has constantly worked to improve the medical community. Dr. Manthei volunteers his time to see indigent patients at UMC, started a residency program to bring future doctors to Nevada, and started the effort to keep our doctors in Nevada, during our recent malpractice crisis.
As far as the allegations, I know Dr. Manthei would not have been intoxicated or have supplied liquor. He was only trying to have a safe place for Gorman to celebrate their baseball championship. (His son was one of their star pitchers.) It is troubling that this hatchet job of an article would come out as Dr. Manthei is to run for public office.
sleibowl,
Thanks for the perspective on the good doctor.
According to the actual officer on scene, the Dr. was intoxicated. According to his words, he gave 'em booze.
The hatchet job is self-inflicted. In spite of your appreciation of the contributions of the good doctor to our community, he may also have an issue with the law in regards to his blatant refusal to go by the rules. It could hurt his chance of election in a community that cares about stuff like that. It probably won't matter here though. LOL
sleibow1...your comments are curiously in the minority. You're either a relative of this questionable doctor, an employee or Dr. Manthei himself, any one of which disqualifies you as being legitimate. The LAST person we need in the state senate is someone like Rudy Manthei, especially when they contribute to the delinquency of minors!
What a surprise he had political ambitions. Will miracles ever cease!
The sad thing is that this Gentleman did an intelligent thing. These young people are going to drink, to deny that is stupid. The best idea is to do it in a controlled situation. The cops know that and had the two jerks not left then it would have ended there. Of course he should not have done it--being sarcastic now-- they should have gone somewhere, broke into an empty house, or out to the lake, got drunk, fights, shot, wrecked out, dead. But at least no adult was involved.
From alphamale: "..had the two jerks not left then it would have ended there." This is the nub of the article. Drunk or not, right or wrong, the doctor had sufficient control of the situation to be in compliance with the law - until the police saw potential drunk drivers leaving the scene. Seems to me that it would be difficult to convict the doctor, when he had taken all reasonable precautions.
rejco, you're certifiable. Funny but still a nut.
This story is tampered with by your great congress. Now let's get it straight. First the Doctor did not give a single person alcohol, he even took out all of the alcohol in his kitchen and bar. If you want to blame anyone for the alcohol, blame the liquor stores that do not card. Second he was not intoxicated and the police even said he was not, so good job reporters. He was being smart and letting them use his home so no one needed to drive. However the guards let in unapproved guests who took this out of hand. The two kids who left were told not to by the Doctor, the one even was suppose to stay the night however didn't listen and walked out anyway. The doctor said he'd even take whoever need to be taken home so there was no need for anyone to get behind the wheel. However two made the bad decision to not listen. The only thing you can blame on this doctor is caring too much about his kids to let them have a party at a random unsupervised home, where no parent is looking out for them.
I have known Dr. Rudy Manthei for a number of years and have found him to be a very generous, caring man, who tries to help everyone. He does numerous things for the community, of which none are mentioned in the article. He recently received an award from the Teachers for his Santa program that helps quite a large number of children who have no insurance each month by providing them with an eye exam and a pair of glasses. He also has a sight for life program in which patients with no insurance and no means to pay are provided eye exams, and even surgeries that allow them to now see. Don't you think you should be fair and write about all the good he does for the community?
oh c'mon readerofthesun, who cares that he has done mumerous things for the community? he broke the law, plain and simple. why should he be treated any differently that anyone else in the same position. why should the article be about anything but his blatant disregard for the law - and by the way, for the rest of us on the roads that night.