Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

State’s top court rejects appeal of convicted ex-CSN official

Gilbert

Steve Marcus

Bob Gilbert, the former construction chief at the College of Southern Nevada, is led away by Deputy Marshall T.J. Knickmeyer after sentencing at the Regional Justice Center Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011. Gilbert was found guilty by a Clark County jury in August 2010 on 11 counts of theft.

Gilbert Sentencing

Bob Gilbert, the former construction chief at the College of Southern Nevada, is led away after sentencing at the Regional Justice Center Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011. Launch slideshow »
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CSN official William Gilbert is accused in the theft of college property in the building of this home on Mount Charleston.

The Nevada Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a former executive of the College of Southern Nevada convicted of stealing building materials from the college to construct his Kyle Canyon home.

The court said there was sufficient evidence to uphold the 11 counts of theft on William R. Gilbert, former associate vice president of facilities at the college.

Gilbert's case was spurred by a Sun investigation five years ago that he was suspected of using his position as CSN's construction chief to develop an 8,200-square-foot house, a 2,500-square-foot guesthouse, stables and a lighted basketball court on his property of more than four acres in Kyle Canyon.

Gilbert had told the Sun that the allegations of misconduct were spurred by disgruntled employees who didn't like his management decisions. He said he was a tough manager and not everyone liked him.

Gilbert maintained there was an unconstitutional search of his home when investigators took photos of the Mount Charleston ranch. The court said the photos were of the equipment in front of the home which was in the back.

The court also rejected his arguments that he was prohibited from fully cross-examining an investigator.

The District Court jury found Gilbert guilty of seven thefts of property from the college and four counts of using two employees of the college to help build his home.

These workers were reported to be on the job at the college but through cellphone records were placed at the home construction site.

Gilbert was found guilty of such things as diverting 28 pallets of cinderblocks from the college to the home and using a forklift, manlift and paint sprayer belonging to the college.

Investigators found 12 lock sets at the home belonging to the college.

After his conviction, Gilbert in 2011 was sentenced to a minimum of 12 months in prison for each of 11 counts of theft of materials from CSN, with the terms running concurrently.

Gilbert was also ordered to pay more than $6,000 in restitution and $10,000 in fines.

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