Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Bob Gilbert, the former construction chief at the College of Southern Nevada, is led away by Deputy Marshall T.J. Knickmeyer after sentencing at the Regional Justice Center Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011. Gilbert was found guilty by a Clark County jury in August 2010 on 11 counts of theft.
By Kyle B. Hansen (contact) 
Published Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011 | 12:34 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011 | 9:37 p.m.
CSN official William Gilbert is accused in the theft of college property in the building of this home on Mount Charleston.
Sun Archives
- Sentencing delayed for ex-CSN construction chief found guilty of theft (1-4-11)
- Ex-CSN construction chief found guilty on theft charges (8-31-2010)
- Gilbert CSN theft case goes to jury (8-30-2010)
- Prosecutors wrapping up theft case against ex-CSN construction chief (8-25-2010)
- Theft trial to continue for former CSN construction chief (8-14-2010)
- Gilbert case may turn on investigator’s testimony (6-2-2009)
- Judge blasts CSN police probe of alleged theft (5-30-2009)
- CSN official faces felony charges (9-26-2008)
- At CSN, two in seemingly similar jobs draw 6 figures (8-25-2008)
- Building chief returns to CSN post under a cloud (7-22-2008)
- CCSN’s, official’s methods conflict (6-22-2007)
- Raid sweeps through CCSN offices (6-14-2007)
- Contracts show conflict of interest (4-4-2007)
- Details emerge as CSN asks for money (7-3-2007)
- Flags raised, chief probed (3-26-2007)
- Gilbert blames disgruntled employees (3-26-2007)
- Sun’s probe hindered by college’s slow response (3-26-2007)
Bob Gilbert’s past dealings finally caught up with him Wednesday. The hammer dropped.
It was four years ago when the Sun broke the news that Gilbert was suspected of using his position as College of Southern Nevada construction chief to take college equipment and manpower to develop an 8,200-square-foot house, a 2,500-square-foot guesthouse, stables and a lighted basketball court on more than four acres in Kyle Canyon.
Gilbert told the newspaper that the allegations of misconduct sprung from employees disgruntled over his management decisions. He managed in a tough way and not everyone liked him, he said.
In September 2008, after Gilbert had been indicted on theft and misconduct charges, the Sun reported that he had a history: In 1991, Gilbert had pleaded guilty to stealing money from a California Indian tribe. He was sentenced to three months behind bars — a conviction and punishment that were not known to CSN when it hired Gilbert in 1997, because the college at the time didn’t check criminal backgrounds.
In August, a Clark County jury found Gilbert guilty of all 11 counts of theft of materials from CSN. The case was prosecuted by the Nevada attorney general’s office.
Gilbert was sentenced Wednesday by District Judge Donald Mosley to 12 months in prison for each count, with the terms running concurrently. Gilbert was also ordered to pay more than $6,000 in restitution and $10,000 in fines.
Mosley said he has no doubt of Gilbert’s guilt. In brief remarks to the court, Gilbert maintained his innocence.
Ron Remington, CSN president from 2001 to 2004, had testified that Gilbert had permission to have the building material and equipment on his property and that some college work was done there, including welding.
But prosecutors said he had pallets of cinder blocks bought by CSN delivered to his property; took a man lift that had disappeared from the college; stole an electric chain hoist, a paint sprayer, 12-foot lengths of lumber, bags of thin-set mortar, door handles and door locks; used a forklift and a scissors lift that had been rented to CSN, and used the services of several CSN construction employees to work on his home while they were on the clock and being paid by the college.
Gilbert’s co-defendants — Matthew Goins, George Casal and Thad Skinner, all of whom worked under him in CSN’s facilities management department — pleaded guilty Aug. 5 to two gross misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit theft. Each received a sentence that amounts to a year of informal probation.
At sentencing, Gilbert said he was sorry for putting the court through this process and said he regretted the way he treated some of his employees, but he maintained his innocence.
“Everything I did, I did with the knowledge of the president of the college,” he said.
He repeated his claim that the allegations against him resulted from disgruntled employees who had an ax to grind and went to the media.
“I can see how I made people mad,” he said, perhaps because of arrogance or because of a push to get projects done, he added.
Deputy Attorney General Thom Gover said Gilbert’s case should be an example for other public employees.
Gilbert was a public officer in a position of trust, Gover said. It is important for other public employees to know that it is not OK to steal from taxpayers, he said, in asking for a prison sentence rather than parole.
Gilbert’s attorneys, John Momot Jr. and E. Brent Bryson, said they will appeal.
“There are fundamental flaws through each and every count that Mr. Gilbert was charged with,” Bryson said.
Mosley has the audacity to sit in judgement of people who committed white collar crimes? Disgusting.
Is it any wonder that higher education system in Nevada is in such bad shape with things like this happening?
I was robbed by the CSN, I am sure others have and continue to be as well, while capturing one thieve automatically implies there are others -- just as there are those "gaming" public services other than firefighters -- the community of Henderson recently rendered a $1.28 million dollar settlement and has a history of others -- State Treasure Kate Marshall gambled away $50 million taxpayer dollars yet no similar arrests or convictions to that of Gilbert's have been made?
: {
As I have said before,those who where not there, no nothing of the truth
$6,000 in restitution? Is that the extent of his supposed larceny?
Direct from the article; "Deputy Attorney General Thom Gover said the court should use Gilbert to set an example to other public employees."
The precedent has been D.A. David Rogers -- if you can relentlessly pursue on this guy for $6k, you better go to the ends of the earth after the firefighters who ripped off the taxpayers for $10MM+++ with their sick leave scam.
We're watching -- and expect a full and thorough investigation of the misdeeds by those other public employees - Clark County Firefighters.
For "Theft"? They're going to be playing hell marching fire fighters through this court. Read on folks.
I wont hold my breath on sick leave penalties for firefighter if ther was wrong doing.Strenght in numbers.
This guy stole the equivalent of 3 sick days of a firefighter. Where is the equality.
Bob Gilbert is the scumiest crook on the face of this earth but I believe the judge is even worse for only giving him 1 year on 11 counts. Judge Mosley, you lost my vote. 11 counts and destroying the jobs of so many innocent people that just did what their "stupidvisor" told them to do. I hope you rot in hell. Both of you.
He has been ordered to repay $6,000 in restitution.
I would be interested in knowing just how much he stole and how much payroll of public employees he used to build his house.
I have a feeling it was more then $6000. Why don't the criminals ever have to repay the total of what they steal? Crime does pay I guess.
Bottom line is he stole from the taxpayers of this state. Hopefully he won't get his government benefits now that he has been convicted.
Hey "i hate" you must have really pissed Bob off to have that opinion of him.I know of many people who non worked , themselfs out of a job.
I wonder if he will lose weight in jail?
Iowa Guy 900 tons? What are you on?
Gilbert is nothing more than your common criminal, who serve time for theft and repeated that same crime. I wish the county would repossess his home considering it was built by using public bought material and free labor provided by CSN. His punishment is a slap in the face of every tax payer of Nevada. His time will come back to haunt him. He may think he got away with something, but bad thing always come back to get you when you least expect it.
Gilbert has been found guilty of this type of crime not once but twice. Judge Mosley shame on you, the book should have been thrown at Gilbert as a repeat offender. The Jury found him guilty on 11 counts and even you yourself thought he was guilty, why the light sentance? I guess Gilbert has friends in high places what a shame.Don't count on my vote when you are up for re-election!As for Gilbert, how many lives did you trample on to get your way? I hope it was worth it.....
Once a thief always a thief. Some people didn't like him....? Maybe they didn't like him because they "knew" he was a thief. How can a business hire someone and not do a background investigation ? Shame on them !
Bob, Bob, Bob. Scored a lot of points and collected a posse along the way. Learned/ refined the art of the scam at a number of peoples' expense. Integrity and a mans' word are all one has. You and Thad allegedly had a great teacher but to forego the possibility of libel will go unnamed.