Charges dropped against Nye County detective

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Monday, May 24, 2010 | 10:50 a.m.

Updated Monday, May 24, 2010 | 12:21 p.m.

Charges against a Nye County sheriff's detective have been dropped and an arrest warrant in the case must be voided.

Justice of the Peace Tina Brisebill ordered that a criminal complaint filed by private attorney Conrad Claus against Detective David Boruchowitz be withdrawn. She also ordered that any record of the arrest be expunged.

Boruchowitz turned himself in to the Nye County Detention Center at 1:20 p.m. Friday and was booked and released on his own recognizance. Claus had filed a criminal complaint Thursday accusing Boruchowitz of burglary and assault in an effort to harass candidates seeking public office.

Nye County District Attorney Robert Beckett had appointed Claus as special prosecutor to investigate charges of misconduct at the sheriff’s office. That followed Beckett's arrest May 5 after an investigation by the sheriff’s office into charges of malfeasance of office, embezzlement, 20 counts of fraudulent appropriation of property and 20 counts of misconduct of a public officer.

Boruchowitz had filed a motion to strike the criminal complaint, challenging the legitimacy of Claus’ appointment as a special prosecutor.

According to Brisebill's ruling, Claus didn't have standing to file a felony criminal complaint on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office.

Boruchowitz said this afternoon he was pleased with the ruling.

"I appreciate Judge Brisebill in her wisdom in recognizing that the special prosecutor appointed was not done so in a legitimate manner," he said.