Robert Lane
By Matt Ward
A long-simmering personality conflict between the area’s two District Court judges became public Thursday when a memo from Judge Robert Lane was released that announced his official resignation from the Fifth Judicial District drug court program that he founded.
Lane was instrumental in starting the court as well as creating a nonprofit organization to fund its nascent operations. He also presided over the court for about seven years.
When Judge Kimberly Wanker took the bench last year — she was appointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval to replace the deceased Judge John Davis — Lane handed over drug court duties to the new judge because he felt he should take a break. He had also been doing much of the District Court’s work while Davis battled cancer.
Wanker dove right into her new duties, including at the drug court, which operates on a three-year, $1.1 million federal grant.
Sources at the courthouse tell the Pahrump Valley Times that Wanker discovered several questionable financial decisions regarding drug court funds. The discoveries, not all of which have become clear, supposedly led to added tension between the judges as well as the drug court’s coordinator Tammi Odegard.
An ever-increasing tempo of rumors over the last several months have made the rounds at the Pahrump courthouse — screaming matches between the judges, accusations of lying and theft, Lane even deciding to move out of his new offices back into his old office.
Sources say that Odegard faced disciplinary action recently when confronted by Wanker. Also, sources indicate that Lane’s resignation was more a mea culpa for appearing to disregard calls for an audit of the drug court’s bank account, an account that holds as much as $100,000 and appears to operate outside of county controls.
Also, raising some eyebrows is the fact that according to the Secretary of State’s Office, the nonprofit Fifth Judicial District Adult Drug Court 501(c)3 has as one of its director’s former District Attorney Bob Beckett, who lost his re-election bid in 2010 after 16 years in office after a string of embarrassing run-ins with police, including accusations of theft from his office’s bad check program.
Sources close to the drug court say Beckett has nothing to do with the organization and that the information provided by the Secretary of State’s Office is merely outdated. However, at least one county official, who did not wish to speak on the record, says they have information that suggests Beckett’s name was purposely left as director of the organization.
President of the organization is Lane, while Odegard is listed as secretary and treasurer. Sources say the nonprofit represents a unique departure from the way drug courts normally are organized in Nevada.
Asked Wednesday to explain why the nonprofit organization exists and what its functions are, Odegard said she couldn’t say. She did say that the nonprofit was started before she started work four years ago. Odegard got emotional when asked several follow-up questions, which she refused to answer.
Lane declined to comment outside his memo, which in part refers to a separate memo sent July 2 that alerted court staff that he still had the final say when it came to drug court, regardless of Wanker’s presiding over it.
Lane’s later memo suggests District Attorney Brian Kunzi played a role in changing that view.
“On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, I had a meeting with Mr. Kunzi who expressed concerns that he and others had regarding my memo that was promulgated on July 2, 2012. I told him that the purpose of the memo was to inform everyone that I was only taking a break from the drug court, that I planned to be back on board soon, that I didn’t want Tammy (sic) fired, that I didn’t want to start a new program too quickly that could interfere with the drug court program I had started, and that because I felt it was still my program I should be informed when anything out of the ordinary course of the program occurred.
“He informed me that some people had interpreted the memo differently and there was some frustration because of the memo — who was in charge, what could be done, and so forth. I apologize the memo wasn’t clear as to its intent,” Lane’s memo reads.
Asked for comment late Thursday, Wanker declined.
Kunzi issued a response to several questions without revealing what at its core is an internal dispute that has so far escaped public view.
The district attorney did say he doesn’t believe any drug court funds have been misused. His statements to the PVT seem to seek to diffuse the matter.
“The meeting to which Judge Lane makes reference was to address the structure of the drug court and whether there is a need for a continued use of the nonprofit corporation. Having a split structure was causing confusion within the ranks as to the controlling authority. Judge Lane wanted there to be clarity as to who the staff should report to and indicated he would clearly ‘resign’ from the operations to clear up any potential confusion.”
There is no indication that any investigation of the drug court program, its nonprofit arm or any other aspect of its funding is underway. One high-ranking sheriff’s official said he was aware of the issues but didn’t seem to think there was anything criminal to any of it.
A county official confirmed late Thursday that an audit of the drug court’s nonprofit would commence soon.
The drug court fight may be the tip of the iceberg as far as conflicts between Wanker and Lane. Sources indicate that the tension between the two stretches all the way back to when Wanker took her seat on the bench. Sparring over office decor and political wrangling over courts outside Nye County are two other memorable disagreements, sources say.
Are we to assume that the judges and a prior DA could be using the drug court funds for recreational purposes?
IF your going to TRY and state FACTS,, then PLEASE tell ALL the FACTS….1.Who IS the ” High level Sheriff official? 2. Who IS the County Official that confirmed this? 3, WHO are your “sources”….? You can do better writing than this… FACTS please, not rumors.
I have reread this story several times today.. shaking my head. All this story is doing, is TRYING to stir up more trouble that is NOT needed in Nye County.
Also on a side note. PLEASE when referring to a Judge.. Use the RESPECT they are entitled to, dead or alive.. The Honorable Judge.. ………. not Davis, not Lane, not Wanker.
To clarify my last statement..The Honorable Judge Lane… The Honorable Judge Wanker.. The Honorable Judge Davis.. not just by their last names.. Lane Wanker or Davis. That is just rude….
1.- The writer doesn’t HAVE to state sources.
2.-Associated Press style is the writing “law” of most newspapers including the PVT. The full name or title is used only the first time someone is referenced. After the first point of reference, it’s last name only.
3.-We are a newspaper and personal likes and dislikes of circumstances here have absolutely nothing to do with reporting what’s news and will effect the community in one way or another.
What saddens me the most, YOU feel YOU have the RIGHT to decide what is good for Nye County. YOU give just a “bit of a story”.. Just enough to upset people. keep them guessing. instead of keeping things straight.
I “understand” after a long talk with someone today, yes YOU do have the RIGHT to not share the whole truth YOU have gotten. YET we are suppose to TRUST what YOU write…. makes it hard when YOU take the stance YOU did on this. I am sure people want and NEED to read, hear the truth…. not just pieces of the jigsaw puzzle.
you can’t trust anything the PVT says laur.
it is true that they do not have to reveal their sources but i would be willing to wager a years wages that 80% of the time they have no source at all and are just making it up.
they slant things so when you read it tou see that they are not the UNbiased newspaper they say they are….
because i am speaking the truth here i doubt you will even get to readf this before their “moderator” removes it. but i tried.
Edit: Everyone has an opinion. You’re welcome to yours.
By the way, you are one of the most frequent posters here. If you don’t like the paper, why do you read it?
PVT
guess again. this is the story that made me snap. There are many stories on the PVT, that only start a plot, yet never finish them. I was at dinner with several people (i do not have to give my sources.. i have that freedom).. ALL are fed up with the “never ending stories”.
Several of us on Monday are going to take this issue up with some higher sources in Las Vegas that own the PVT. The arrogant attitude of whom ever wrote the responses here that represent this paper, concerns me. IF we do NOT agree with “whomever”..EDIT is, they come down on people like they are scum… not good practice.
PVT
i read it for the entertainment value. like a person would read the national enquirer. i post because it is the only way i can get state my opinion ( as you say i have a right to)
you know this paper is as biased as they come… you edit peoples opinion as you see fit when they don’t your views… now i know you won’t let this be posted because you know i’m right but there it is.
You can be “right” all you like, but your post is online.
Here are the rules:
No foul language, no personal bashing (i.e. name calling), dis the paper all you l like but if you have a problem with one of the reporters directly call the office, everyone has the right to an opinion, but they don’t have the right to tell someone else their opinion is wrong (it results in arguments), no arguing with someone over their opinion, stay on topic, no threats (veiled or otherwise) and no liable comments.
You are welcome to think what you like about this paper. We appreciate your readership. Stay on topic.
PVT
First offender druggies should get jail time,,,Oh Bring Back Judge Roy Bean!!
Only people like Ms. Wanker can try to ruin a great program such as Drug Court. Nye County should be thanking the Honorable Judge Robert Lane for his insight and dedication to his judicial duties. He started and ran an outstanding Drug Court. People like quick draw don’t have a clue Wanker perhaps could have been professional and asked The Honorable Judge Robert Lane for his insight and advice. Your Hoover I want to personally thank you for ask off the time and effort you and your great staff part and present have poured into the Drug Court Pegram.
Out of curiosity, I went down to the courthouse to sit in on a drug court session. I got exactly the opposite impression of Judge Wanker. I thought she did a tremendous job. I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I thought she was great. No doubt Judge Lane did an equally good job when he ran it, but I don’t think we have anything to worry about no matter who is over it.
mushx4.. thank you …I got your point.. I ‘m happy you saw mine, also….
Snidely. I agree with you on this.. BOTH Judges are very good. I believe the Honorable Judge Wanker has stepped into some BIG shoes, fits them very well, too!!!
I met her here at a community function and she is definitely not the status quo. Doesn’t seem to have a political bone in her body. Just wants to work harde and do good. Judge Davis would have been pleased, I think.
The Honorable Judge Davis would indeed have been proud. I understand she is all about working hard..no political agenda…Just showing up to do her job.
Sad to read and hear of infighting
I would have to agree with the above posts, this is not news it is a tabloid! To make it news you have to have facts otherwise it is just a rumor mill… not sure if the PVT enjoys making the people it talks about upset, but I really feel they should get facts before printing a story.
why isn’t this article tagged with the following article. Not one person would read about this with the title stating about how bad watching the Olympics is:
A word on drug court.
A news story on the front page of this paper reveals a simmering feud between two District Court judges that has the potential to cast our local drug court in a less-than-positive light.
It shouldn’t. A few issues certainly surround this non-profit drug court organization that was set up years ago to collect donations to fund certain drug court purchases.
That will likely be worked out as those funds are audited.
While that’s taking place, it behooves us and everyone in the county’s law enforcement community to recognize that our drug court is an exemplary tool for diverting drug users into programs that might very well save their lives. Not just their’s either, their kids’ lives, too. Treating drug abusers also saves taxpayers money — productive, sober people are better for the bottom line of any community than incarcerated prisoners.
Tammi Odegard and her staff should be commended for their work at the drug court. Judge Robert Lane, too, deserves recognition for building a solid, self-sustaining program that enriches people’s lives. And Judge Kimberly Wanker, as for all to see, has helped make drug court a better program, too.
Whatever personal differences court staff and judges may have for one another, we hope that these difference do nothing to harm the quality of work being done by the drug court. It’s just too important.
Pahrumpparent.. very nicely said. (Edited Stay on topic. The new edition uploads on top of old edition articles. There is a keyword search bar at top right of the page to help find articles that seemingly disappear. – PVT)
Posted for JB
Wanker: is this the same Wanker that you, the PVT, wrote about on 21 March 2012? The Judge Wanker who on tape called a Defendant an “a**hole”, and referred to the the Defendants supporters as “church people”, I would take that in context “church people” meaning as in an insult.
Yes I have listened to Wanker speak too, and she does sound pretty good, but that don’t.
Judge Lane, however I have sat in on many of his cases, dishonest, no chance. He is a good man. I just wrote a letter to Tammi, Judge Lane, and the Editor here, on how high I hold the Honor of this man, Judge Lane. I hope they print it.