Prosecutors wrapping up theft case against ex-CSN construction chief

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010 | 6:33 p.m.

After nearly three weeks and calling some 18 witnesses, the Nevada Attorney General's office is expected to wrap up its felony theft case Thursday against William "Bob" Gilbert, former construction chief at the College of Southern Nevada.

Then the defense will begin presenting its case to the seven-man, five-woman jury, which could take another two weeks. The defense had presented a list of 70 potential witnesses to the court for the trial, which began Aug. 9.

The trial will get under way again at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Courtroom 12B at the Clark County Regional Justice Center before District Judge Donald Mosley.

Gilbert faces charges stemming from an attorney general's investigation that alleges he diverted CSN-owned building equipment, material and employees for his personal use.

Gilbert, a former CSN associate vice president, has pleaded not guilty.

His attorneys say he had permission and an agreement from the college's former presidents to store equipment and supplies and do college-related work on his 4.6-acre property in the lower Kyle Canyon area of Mount Charleston.

The Sun broke the story about Gilbert in March 2007 after more than a dozen former and current college employees said they'd witnessed Gilbert misuse his position at the college.

Employees accused Gilbert of directing multiple $400,000 college contracts to subcontractors in exchange for their working on his ranch-style estate for free or at reduced cost. They also alleged he used CSN equipment and manpower to develop an 8,200-square-foot main house, a 2,500-square-foot guesthouse, stables and a lighted basketball court. At the time of his indictment in 2008, the Clark County assessor listed the taxable value of the estate at $1.32 million.

The materials allegedly stolen in the scheme included lumber, cinder blocks, door handles and door locks, sources said. A manlift, a paint sprayer and a chain hoist also are among the items allegedly taken from the college that were seized by investigators during a raid on the property.

During testimony on Wednesday, Chief Deputy State Attorney General Conrad Hafen called four witnesses to the stand.

Three of them were former or current CSN employees who worked for Gilbert as "leave keeper" and kept track of the amount of personal leave each employee took for payroll purposes.

They were called mainly to demonstrate there was documentation available that showed the amount of personal leave that was taken by two men, Matthew Goins and George Casal, who had worked under Gilbert in CSN's Facilities Management Department.

Prosecutors say the Goins and Casal worked on Gilbert's home while they were still on the clock and being paid by CSN.

Hafen then called the lead investigator in the attorney general's case, Anthony Ruggiero, to the stand to talk about the leave and payroll documentation and how Ruggiero matched it with cell phone records to create a timeline that showed Casal and Goins were working at Gilbert's place while on duty and being paid by CSN.

Goins, Casal and fellow former CSN employee Thad Skinner had been charged with assisting in the alleged thefts from January 2002 to June 2007.

All three men cut a deal in which they pleaded guilty Aug. 5 to two gross misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit theft. Each received a sentence that amounts to one year of informal probation.

During the past three weeks, Hafen brought about 18 witnesses, including people who worked at the college, investigators, and people at CSN who knew about work schedules and the value of the equipment allegedly stolen.

Hafen said he planned to call one more witness to the stand Thursday.

"Barring any unforeseen problems, that will wrap up my case in chief," Hafen said outside the courtroom. "I'll be done tomorrow and I believe they're going to start calling witnesses tomorrow."