Nye County D.A. won’t pursue charges against Odom

The Nye County District Attorney’s office decided that they will not file drug charges against former NBA star Lamar Odom after his brothel incident in October.

Nye County District Attorney Angela Bello issued a statement Monday morning explaining the decision not to pursue charges against Odom.

“Based on the present evidence and surrounding circumstances, the Nye County District Attorney’s office has decided not to bring drug charges against Lamar Odom,” the statement read.  “Although the evidence showed Mr. Odom had metabolized cocaine in his system while he was present in Nye County in October of 2015, he was not found in the possession of cocaine and it is unlikely it could established beyond a reasonable doubt he actually ingested, or was impaired by, the drug during the time he was within the jurisdiction of Nye County.”

Odom was discovered unconscious in his room by employees at the Bunny Ranch South brothel in near-by Crystal in the tail end of a three-day stay, and was then transported to Desert View Hospital. Odom was then transferred to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas where he spent a few weeks under their care before being transported to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California.

Over the weekend it was reported that Odom was released from Cedars-Sinai and  transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Southern California.

Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof explained that he was relieved that charges weren't going to be filed against Odom, as it could send a dangerous message to others in the same position.

“I’m glad that they didn’t prosecute him,” Hof said. “Because I think that it would deter other people in Nye County from calling 911 when they are having an overdose situation.”