Husband of state senator arrested in Las Vegas

Las Vegas police last week arrested the husband of state Sen. Elizabeth Halseth on a charge of open and gross lewdness in connection with a dispute between the couple in their home.

Police arrested Daniel Halseth, 32, on Oct. 21 after going to the couple's home to check on the lawmaker's welfare when her mother was unable to reach her, according to an arrest report.

Elizabeth Halseth previously had told her mother that her husband, whom she described as having become controlling, had taken her phone, purse and car keys.

Police were attempting to break into the couple's house on Aurora Cove in the southwest valley when the couple arrived home from church, where they had gone for counseling at the husband's insistence.

Halseth, R-Las Vegas, told police that five days earlier her husband, in an act of jealousy, had intimated her and touched her against her will. Daniel Halseth told police he had been trying to scare his wife to get her attention.

Both agreed the incident ended when he said it was all a joke.

Officer Laura Meltzer said police could not talk about the incident because it is a potential sex crime and remains under investigation. Open and gross lewdness is a gross misdemeanor under Nevada law. Such offenses can lead to jail time but usually don't.

Although new to Nevada, Elizabeth Halseth won a four-year term to the Senate last November after defeating longtime Sen. Dennis Nolan. She is known as a strong conservative, and she opposed the reauthorization of $600 million in taxes and voted against legislating rights for transgender people.

The couple, who have been married 11 years, have three children.