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By Cara McCoy 
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 | 11:36 a.m.
James Vernon Clayton
Sun Archives
A former North Las Vegas police officer was sentenced Tuesday to probation and six months of house arrest for improper behavior while working as a patrol officer, including seeking dates and sexual favors from women he stopped for traffic violations.
James Vernon Clayton, 40, pleaded guilty in December to five gross misdemeanor counts – three counts of attempted misconduct by a public officer and two counts of oppression under color of office. He was sentenced to three years of probation, with a condition of his probation being six months of house arrest. He was also fined $5,000 and given an underlying sentence of five years, meaning if he violates his probation, he could spend five years behind bars.
The charges stem from allegations related to Clayton’s interactions with five adult women. Clayton was arrested in December 2008 and was ultimately fired from the police force.
“Obviously, this is a nightmare. It’s my fault. I don’t blame anybody else. I think there are some circumstances, but the whole thing is my fault,” Clayton said in asking District Court Judge James Bixler for mercy. “No matter what happens today, (this situation) will always be my biggest failure, my biggest regret.”
He told the judge his problems started after his divorce.
Clayton’s lawyer, Thomas Beatty, read from a number of letters written to the judge on his client’s behalf. He said since the situation became public, Clayton had suffered “extreme public humiliation” and had been heckled by people on the street. He also said Clayton’s children had been harassed at school.
“He understands this will not just disappear and that there is a long way to go to make things right,” Beatty told the judge. “He is repentant, he is remorseful.”
Beatty asked for probation, saying Clayton had suffered enough by losing his job, his family and his self-respect. He also pointed to the possible security considerations that would need to be undertaken by the jail if Clayton, as a former police officer, were incarcerated.
He further said that Clayton had developed a good relationship with his ex-wife and was seeing his three children daily. He also said he wished to continue to care for his ailing brother, with whom he is living.
Prosecutors argued for four months of jail time as a condition of probation.
“From the onset of this case, what the state found most disturbing is here’s an individual charged with our public safety -- we’ve blindly given him our trust to protect community, we’ve given him a badge, and he’s vitiated all of that, including blemishing his department,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Stacy Kollins said.
She said Clayton’s actions went “far beyond trying to get a date and far beyond flirtation.”
Three of the women were scheduled to speak at Tuesday’s hearing but none showed up, Kollins told the judge, adding that the case had been difficult to prosecute because the women were reluctant to come forward for fear of retaliation.
“This is a man who used his badge, has tarnished that department, has intimidated multiple females in this community and he deserves some punishment,” Kollins argued.
In handing down his sentence, Bixler offered harsh words for Clayton and how his actions had impacted the victims.
“You’ve shaken their faith, their trust in the most sacred thing that we all believe in -- our police. Our police are the rock that we rely on and you … violated that trust,” he said.
After the hearing, Clayton declined to comment. He has remained out of custody after posting a $73,000 bond.
Security considerations ? LOL....baby I HOPE you break your probation.....the BOYS are waiting for you in jail. I wish he was labeled a sex offender...FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
It's despicable that this creep avoided jail time. I hope the voters remember this when District Court Judge James Bixler is up for re-election. Shame on Judge Bixler.
Why should this guy be singled out - they all do it.
There is one law for the normal person and another for these sociopaths.
That is sad he is getting away with taking advantage of these woman. What is the real message that is being sent out? Dont trust cops now because the judges will allow them to get away with anything? Judge James Bixler you just lost my vote, I am going to be voting against you. This case would of made many others vote for you if you would of given this monster a tougher sentence. I always tell my kids to trust cops now what do I tell my kids? I dont even trust cops now. Police officers are suppose to protect the public, not abuse the people who trust in them.
We shouldn't be surprised at all that this sexual predator got off lightly. I wouldn't want him living in my neighborhood.
So what you're saying is, it's against department policy to do stuff like that?
Fix.
And people wonder why North Las Vegas is considered an open sewer???
Hey this guy is a bum for sure, but I bet no one remembers the California Highway Patrol Officer who used to hang out at the Barstow McDonald's and wait for the hotties heading to Vegas, then pull them over out on 15 and rape them until finally one poor girl threatened him that her boyfrien in Vegas was a lawyer and she was gonna get him back, which then he proceeded to shoot her with his service revolver. This presented a huge problem because every time an officer fires his weapon they supposedly are to turn it in for inspection, which would have matched the ballistics to his gun which he tried to say he lost it, ultimately he was caught and then killed himself. This POS raped countless women using his badge to intimidate them into silence. These are the kind of cops who we really need to fear. My guess is that if this jerk kept getting away with his antics he would have ultimately probably would have taken his crimes a step further with some poor women being murdered.
Amazing...NOT.
Another scumbag skates
Judge Bixler is the most liberal soft on crime judge in district court.
Shame on him!!! Not all, but most police officers use that badge to the max!!! Almost got ran off the road by a few (no lights or sirens)!! They put theirselves on a higher level than they really are. Serve & Protect LOL...a joke!!
What a F'ing Scumbag. And, how the F does he avoid ANY time? You have to hope he trips up and breaks his probation and winds up in the pokey. Then and only then will he get justice. Just look at the picture of this dirt bag - dude deserves some real justice!
Authorities extorting "favors" is the definition of "authority" -- recording such acts a viable deterrent -- a cellphone recording society holds trump in their palm.
Such events happen daily, PREpare to set your hand-helds to "capture".
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Beyond any doubt this creep should have been labeled a sex offender and I guarantee you he would have been had he not been a policeman. This just opens the door for more of them to commit the same offense.
Vote District Court Judge James Bixler out of office!!!
Six months of house arrest...what a joke.
Throw him in jail, in the general population. Let him find out what it feels like to be sexually harassed. Hes a scumbag, put him where he belongs.
...if he violates his probation, he could spend five years behind bars.
The optimum word here is "could" not "will."
I'm really tired of the double standard.
The women wouldn't even go to speak at sentencing...wow. Mr. Clayton should have gone to trial and the women wouldn't have showed. If they did I'm sure that his attorney could have made them unbelievable or unreliable witnesses and Mr. would have walked free without even a record since it would be a not guilty verdict. I bet Mr. Clayton is having second thoughts now.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was in all caps.
I like how Tbag...whoops meant tbrownbag(honest mistake) has to bring race into it as always....Also since when is NLV police metro? I agree he got off a little better then he should of, but it has nothing to do with race nor with metro
Thank you bill702 for that comment and clearing that up... NOTHING about race here and TBAG...get over yourself...!!!! Thank goodness he got off easily...he and his family have been through enough and has served our community. I'm sure these women didnt show up because they are just as guilty....if they were innocent, they would have been there!!!! NOT all cops are bad!!!
I suggested tbrownbags comment for removal as a racist comment. I am tired of hearing is "It was a black"...give me a break..do they shoot and lynch law breakers for real in Las Vegas Tbrownbag? Or are you just a idiot? The Cop paid his dues his life is ruined from now on out...I am not condoning his behavior at all but come on...jails are full of those that carried out sexual assaults...he has far as I know did not do so.
Thank you buckiefan :) and you are right he has paid his dues :)
This what Matt Damon is gonna look like at age 47.
District Court Judge James Bixler - how many others has he only given probation and how many given a maximum?
Hey environprotector, it was only history repeating itself. Look up "Craig Peyer CHP" and read the articles about that scumbag. He's in prison serving a 25 year to life sentence where he belongs.
Yep.. this dirtbag makes all of us 'Coppers' look bad. Just like the FF who was caught up in the sting.
Thank God he didn't get lucky (that we know of) and he's off the Dept. Just know that the vast majority of us in blue are NOT like him and we are glad that he's gone.
You guys are making a big mistake lumping this jerk in with all police officers. They are not all cut from the same bolt of cloth.
The law is not fair, it is "just". "Just" make sure you have a good attorney.
Some people have literally gotten away with murder. "If the glove fits, wear it". Justice is served, but we all know that the outcomes are not necessarily fair.
Someone once said, "If the truth were self evident, there would be no need for eloquence". Think about it...
No you are right you can't lump him in with "all" cops....but isn't it terrifying that a sexual predator got into the police department again and was able to use the power of the badge for sexual favors!!! And then is not prosecuted to the extent of the law! Wow! Arnt cops or those in power suppose to be to held to a higher standard????!!! Obviously they are not! Thats what I find terrifying!
He needs a good ass kicking in front of his family.
Well mudpacker, of course not all police officers are bad, but whenever bad apples are exposed, they are usually given the benefit of the doubt, or it takes an especially heinous crime with irrefutable evidence for them to face the same level of justice as their peers, and that's the point. For the good cops out there, none of this applies to them anyway.
are we really surprised at this guy's actions? he is/was a cop. there is a reason why this type of person becomes a cop. feelings of inadequacy. basically the same reason that certain people drive around in the biggest, highest, and most pimped out pick-ups or hummers they can find.
justice..??
you think because the witnesses didn't show up he's innocent. It couldn't be the very real threat of retaliation from his buddies on the force. This guys should be labeled as a sex offender and have to do hard time. He got off with approximately the same sentence as 2nd DUI.
It's a farce
I don't understand why this is not attempted rape?
This is horrifying. They'll charge a man with a sex offense when he jumps into a pool and his trunks come down, but this guy no.
Is there any justice in this state?
Bixler, when you come up for re-election, you won't get my vote.
David Roger, you are soooo done. I hope my fellow citizens make sure you and your "good old boys" go back to spending time on the street corners like the creeps you are.
WHAT??? THIS GUY POWER TRIPPS WITH HIS BADGE... AND HE GETS TO KICK IT AT HOME..THREE WOMEN ARE SCARED TO TALK ABOUT AND HE IS KICKIN IT AT HOME....i DONT CARE ABOUT SECURITY RISKS I'M SURE WHEN HE WAS FORCING HIMSELF ON PEOPLE UNDER THE COLOR OF THE LAW HE WAS NOT TOO CONCERN WITH HIS SECURITY....HE ONE SMAL STEPP AWAY FROM A SEXUAL PREDATOR AND IF HE WOULD NOT OF GOTTEN CAUGHT THATS WERE HE WAS GOING WITH THIS ...VEGAS PROBATION AND JUDGES SHOULD HANG THE HEADS IN SHAME ...THERE IS A CALIFORNIA chp OFFICER IN PRISON RIGHT NOW FOR KILLING A GIRL WHO DID NOT GIVE INTO HIS DEMANDS...AND THIS GUY IS GOING TO BE WALKING AROUND....WITH ALL OF YOU
make this guy jailmates with the Hep-C doctor!
This sicko will probably graduate to murder, so there will not be any witness'. Such a light sentence for a creepy pervert. The justice system is a joke.
another dirtbag walks free---more than a few psychos working in the police dept. This isn't the first case like this in las vegas, i can't remember the other guys name but i remember he had a slap on the hand also a few years back.
Actually the poor guy is sad. Getting away with this kind of 'bully with balls behind the badge' proves rather clearly that our system is anything except fair, anything but just, and everything but decent for those who follow the law in letter and spirit.
A bunch of people in this town are uncomfortable driving their cars on our streets because we have let a person use his badge for intimidation.
Great place ...if you're the cop and can get anything you want from behind your badge.
And he walks when identified.
Pathetic.
When Gillespie has the majority of his circus show living in strip clubs for prostitution stings what do you exect? No male hormones to take advantage of the badge?
....expect
This happened to my wife in Henderson. Pulled over for no apparent reason. Officer called three other cars (she was alone mind you) to the "scene". She doesn't drink at all, and they insisted on making her "walk a line" for what she says was at least 15 minutes. Before letting her leave, one actually asked her out on a date.
Disgusting.
At least we know he's home. Time for some street justice. Of course he can always get by with sexual favors, pull'm done and bend over Scumbag Clayton!
Hopefully ladies who were victimized by this dead man walking will come forward and sue him and the county. Time for Metro and Clark County to spread their cheeks.
I read numerous stories on here or the other paper about Bixler letting people off with a slap on the wrist. I am somewhat young and I am curious: about how long has he been appointed? Does anyone know?
Environ: Do you know the names of any of the parties involved with that story? I tried looking it up but I couldn't find it. I did, however, see the Peyer story on "Forensic Files" a while back.
As a woman, these stories scare the crap out of me. Another thing to keep in mind, ladies, are the people out there posing as cops (or other authority figures) and scaring you into a bad situation.