By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

Justice of the Peace Lanny Waite was the guest speaker at the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon on Wednesday, February 15. The long-time Moapa Valley Justice Court judge is running for re-election this year and said that he wanted to report on the status of the local court.

Waite began by stating that he and the court staff continually strive to keep in stride with the technology and other services offered in modern court systems. For example, the court has recently begun accepting traffic fines and court payments online, he said.

“We are a small court serving a rural area,” Waite said. “But you don’t need to worry that the court is not up to date on what is going on nationally. We have stayed up to date with software and computer systems, and I don’t think there is a court in the country that is any better equipped than we are with technological tools.”

Waite said that he has also worked to stay current on modern case law and judicial practices. He has recently been recognized by the Nevada Supreme Court for completing 640 hours of judicial education. He has also taught seminars at judges conferences and at the National Judicial College. But Waite stated that such awards and recognitions are not as important to him as being able to make a difference in the community through service on the bench.

Waite stated that M.V. Justice Court has made a reputation for its tough treatment of DUI cases. Waite believes that drunk driving problems are best addressed early on at the very first offense.

“In the case of first time DUI offenders, most courts hand down the minimum sentence and just whisk them through the system,” Waite said. “There is no monitoring and no follow up.”

Waite said that, while DUI is a concern, the number one problem in the community is the use of elicit drugs. He said that this problem is usually seen in court in one of two categories: 1) the common street addict and, 2) what Waite called, the silent addict.

Among the street addicts the most common substance is currently methamphetamines, Waite said.

“With meth it is terribly frustrating,” Waite said. “Because meth is so addictive, we’ve seen where we have put them through treatment, counseling and community service and they look pretty good. But then a little while later, they are just right back in court on the same boat.”

Waite has adopted severe sentencing practices in these cases. But again he allows the defendant an option; either a year in jail or leave the jurisdiction for a period of three years.

“Meth is such a powerful and destructive drug, the only way to break the cycle is to get them out of the community and go somewhere else where they can get help.”

In the category of “silent addicts” the biggest problem in the community is prescription drugs, Waite said.

“You don’t see it or hear about it much,” Waite said. “But it is a huge problem affecting all walks of life, all church and educational backgrounds and different age groups.”

In many cases, the youth in the community are getting in trouble with prescription drugs, Waite said. This is where having a full juvenile court is a benefit to the community, Waite said.

Many years ago, Waite and Virgin Valley Justice of the Peace Ron Dodd fought for a juvenile court to be located in the rural communities so that rural youth weren’t being “lost in the shuffle” of the urban juvenile courts.

Waite stated that he has, over the years, had to fight to keep the juvenile court, and other court services, here in the local community.

“Every few years, it rears its head under the guise of court consolidation and cutting the budget,” Waite said. “They come out and try to set us straight and bring us in line with how things are done in Las Vegas. It takes some time but we finally win them over and they go away asking: Why are we trying to change this? It’s working.”