Halverson’s ex-bailiff pleads guilty to lewdness with minor

By Cara McCoy

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 | 1:30 p.m.

The bailiff of former Judge Elizabeth Halverson pleaded guilty Monday to one count of lewdness with a child in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, district court records show.

Johnnie Jordan, 40, of Las Vegas, was facing multiple felony counts, including sexual assault with a minor, sexually motivated coercion and open or gross lewdness after after an encounter last month with the teenage girl at her home. Jordan was a family friend, records show.

He pleaded guilty to one count of lewdness with a child under the age of 14, records show. A sentencing date was set for June 2 in front of District Court Judge Doug Smith. In Nevada, the maximum penalty for lewdness with a child under 14 is life in prison.

According to a North Las Vegas Police arrest report, officers responded to a home in the 3000 block of West Colton Avenue on Feb. 13 after receiving a report of a sexual assault.

The girl told police she was in her bedroom, texting on her phone, when Jordan, who was visiting the girl’s family along with his mother and his ex-fiancee, entered her bedroom. He began to tickle her and kissed her neck and ears, she told police, before committing unwanted sexual acts against her, the police report said.

Jordan served as Halverson’s bailiff until Halverson removed him and brought in two unlicensed individuals to be her bodyguards.

Halverson was kicked off the bench in November 2008 after being suspended in July 2007.

Her dismissal came after the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline heard dozens of complaints against her during two weeks of hearings, including accusations that the judge slept on the bench and treated her staff like servants.

She was also accused of abusing her staff with foul language and requiring her bailiff to massage her feet, neck and shoulders.

Jordan is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.