Assistant Sheriff Marshall placed on paid leave

Nye County Assistant Sheriff Rick Marshall has been placed on administrative leave with pay until further notice, according to a county email obtained by the Times on Monday.

“There is an internal affairs investigation being conducted,” said Sheriff Sharon Wehrly, declining to specify the nature of the investigation.

Currently, the investigation is in-house, but could be turned turned over to an outside agency if anything criminal or civil is confirmed.

Marshall did not return a call seeking comment.

According to the email sent by the Sheriff’s Office to all county departments on Monday, Marshall is not authorized to conduct business on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office during his suspension. He can not wear the uniform or identify himself as a police officer or engage in any law enforcement activity during the suspension.

He also may not “possess any (Nye County Sheriff’s Office) or Nye County intellectual information in any format, electronic or hard copy, pertaining to the operation, grant process, planning, or history of the (Nye County Sheriff’s Office) including but not limited to daily operations, contracts, training or agreements.”

Marshall is also prohibited from entering any Sheriff’s Office facility, including substations, without written prior approval by Sheriff Sharon Wehrly or Undersheriff Brent Moody.

Marshall lost his bid for the Sheriff’s Office in November, receiving only 30.8 percent of the vote.

In September, an agreement between Marshall and the state Attorney General’s Office saw a misdemeanor charge of injury to property dismissed. The charge was related to an April 22, 2014 arrest for removing campaign signs belonging to a political action committee organized to keep Marshall from becoming sheriff.

He paid $500 in fines and restitution, and performed 40 hours of community service as part of the deal.

The investigation and prosecution was handled by the state agencies and overseen by a visiting senior judge.

Marshall first joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1987 and has been assistant sheriff since 1992.

Marshall will continue to receive his salary and benefits while on leave. In 2014 his total pay and benefits was $182,525, with $126,707 coming from salary.