Family court judge walks free as awaits trial
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A local judge pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and conspiracy in federal court on Thursday. Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- "Citizens of this country have a sacred constitutional right, to be presumed innocent, because charges usually come behind closed doors just like they have in this case," Draskovich said.
A Clark County courts representative said the judge is on a leave of absence and his cases will be handed over to another judge. The judge is up for re-election in 2014.
Family court Judge Steven Jones is a free man Thursday. He's now awaiting his trial in January. The judge appeared in court for the first time following allegations that he participated in an investment fraud scheme.
The court released the judge from custody after he voluntarily turned himself in Thursday morning. He's charged with conspiracy, fraud and money laundering. The indictment said he and other defendants took $3 million from victims and promised them investments in land and water.
The judge's attorney is questioning the timing of the allegations.
"The investigation concerns events that are alleged to have happened in 2002 and 2003, one has to ask oneself, why are we here now at the close of 2012, what's really going on?" attorney Robert Draskovich said.
Today Judge Jones walked out of the federal courthouse after his hearing, he is allowed to go home, but Wednesday the FBI and other agencies took computers and documents out of his Henderson home.
The indictment isn't the first time the judge's ethics have been publicly questioned, in 2006 his ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence, but she later changed her story. And the judge allegedly had a relationship with prosecutor who argued cases in his courtroom.
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