Troubled former drug prosecutor found dead in his home

By Jackie Valley

Published Wednesday, July 17, 2013 | 12:10 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, July 17, 2013 | 3:47 p.m.

David Schubert, a former Clark County deputy district attorney who counted Hollywood celebrities among his prosecutions but who pleaded guilty in 2011 to possessing cocaine, was found dead Wednesday morning in his Las Vegas home, his lawyer confirmed.

Louis Schneider, Schubert’s lawyer and friend, said the Clark County District Attorney’s Office told him this morning about Schubert’s death.

“Dave was a very, very good lawyer, and he will be dearly missed,” Schneider said.

A Metro Police spokesman said dispatchers received a call shortly after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday regarding a deceased person being found at an address in the 8400 block of Cambrils Avenue. Clark County property records list Schubert as owner of the house at 8448 Cambrils Ave.

Schubert had prosecuted several high-profile Las Vegas drug cases, including plea deals with celebrities Paris Hilton and Bruno Mars, while an assistant in the District Attorney’s Office.

Within a month after the Mars case ended, Schubert was arrested for possessing $40 worth of cocaine and having an unregistered handgun in his car. During the police stop that led to Schubert's arrest, 43-year-old Raymond Streeter had hopped out of Schubert's car and began running, according to a Metro Police report. Streeter was captured and told police he had been buying cocaine for Schubert for six or seven months, according to the arrest report.

Schubert subsequently pleaded guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance not for the purpose of sale. In February 2012, District Judge Carolyn Ellsworth agreed to suspend Schubert’s sentence — 16 to 40 months in prison — by placing him on three years of probation, which would include nine months in the Clark County Detention Center, according to court records.

Schubert originally remained free while he challenged the sentence, arguing the judge showed bias against him at the sentencing hearing. A higher court, however, ultimately upheld the sentencing.

Schubert then failed to surrender to authorities Sept. 21 to begin his nine months in county jail. Instead, he fled to Mexico and taunted authorities with a Facebook posting: a photo of a deserted beach. Ultimately, he decided to return to the United States and end his run from justice.

Schneider said Schubert was released from custody April 30 after serving just under five months of his sentence.

Schneider said he and Schubert spoke several times since then, but Schubert’s phone apparently had been turned off in the last week.

“He was extremely upset (about) what happened to him,” Schneider said. “He made a mistake.”

Schneider said Schubert’s death was a tragedy, the end result of the former prosecutor’s mistake that cost him so much.

“Dave was severely punished and stripped of his bar license,” Schneider said. “What he really needed was help.”

Schubert is survived by two young children who live in Idaho, Schneider said.