Vegas bail revoked for ex-lawmaker jailed in Calif
Apr 3, 2013, 7:34 PM
LAS VEGAS (AP) – A judge in Las Vegas revoked bail Wednesday for a former Nevada state assemblyman being held in California on felony charges stemming from a freeway chase and violent struggle with police last week.
Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson’s decision to nullify Steven Brooks’ $4,000 bail means that if Brooks gets out of a San Bernardino County jail, he’ll be jailed without bail in Las Vegas to await an evidence hearing on felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a separate arrest Feb. 10 in Nevada.
Clark County prosecutors argued that Brooks didn’t abide by a court order to stay out of trouble while awaiting the May 7 evidence hearing. He faces felony resisting a police officer with a weapon and three lesser charges in a struggle with police called to a domestic argument involving Brooks and his estranged wife, Ada.
Brooks’ attorney, Mitchell Posin, said he hoped Andress-Tobiasson’s decision wouldn’t prevent Brooks from getting psychological counseling in California.
“I don’t want anything the judge does here to hurt his chances to get into treatment,” Posin said.
Andress-Tobiasson scheduled an April 10 status check on Brooks’ case.
That’s a day after Brooks is scheduled for an evidence hearing in San Bernardino County Superior Court on four felony charges that include resisting an officer, felony evading and assault on a police animal.
Brooks, 41, pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from his arrest last Thursday on Interstate 15 near Victorville, Calif. Judge John Gibson declined Brooks’ request to reduce his $100,000 bail so his family could get him into psychiatric care. The charges could get Brooks more than five years in prison.
The California chase and arrest followed a call from a tow truck driver about a motorist refusing to pay for fixing a flat tire on a freeway shoulder in Barstow.
It came just hours after Brooks became the first person in Nevada history to be expelled from his elected seat in the state Legislature. Colleagues in Carson City cited concerns for their safety and a bizarre series of public incidents, including two previous arrests since January.
No charges have been filed by the Nevada attorney general in Brooks’ first arrest, Jan. 19. Brooks spent a night in jail after police said they were told the Democrat from North Las Vegas threatened other legislators, including Assembly Democratic Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick. Police reported confiscating a gun and ammunition from Brooks’ state-issued car.
Several days later, Brooks was hospitalized for five days for a psychological evaluation after Las Vegas police were called to a report of an argument at Brooks’ grandmother’s house in Las Vegas.
He was arrested again Feb. 10 after he was accused of throwing punches and trying to grab a gun from an officer responding to the domestic dispute call. Police said Ada Brooks called 911 from a neighbor’s house to report that Brooks showed up unexpectedly and verbally and physically attacked her in her home.
Clark County commissioners in Las Vegas plan by April 16 to name a replacement to fill Brooks’ unexpired term in the state Assembly.
_____
Find Ken Ritter on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/krttr
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
