Nevada Supreme Court reinstates Beckett’s license

Former Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett, who temporarily lost his license to practice law last winter after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a public officer, was reinstated this week.

The Nevada Supreme Court noted the underlying charge against Beckett out of Pahrump Justice Court had been dismissed with prejudice, meaning prosecutors cannot refile the case, and used their discretion to reinstate licenses in such instances.

"I'm grateful to the Supreme Court," said Beckett on Friday. "I realize justices exercised their discretion. It could have gone either way. I'm going to do my best not to disappoint them."

Beckett was Nye County's district attorney for 16 years. His bid for a fifth term ended badly last summer when he finished in a five-way primary ---- earning fewer voters than disgraced former Clark County Family Court Judge Nicholas DelVechhio.

Beckett's career began to fall apart in June 2008 when he wrecked two vehicles, one county owned, in one day on the same stretch of California highway. He was charged with DUI but pleaded to a lesser charge of reckless driving and was placed on probation.

Beckett never recovered from the hit to his reputation and things got decidedly worse in 2010. In May, as the election heated up, Beckett was arrested on fraud and embezzlement charges related to office accounts. He admitted he "hit bottom" in September when he was arrested for the third time in two years, again on suspicion of drunk driving.

Beckett soon thereafter entered an inpatient clinic to address his issues. He still faces a formal Nevada State Bar disciplinary hearing.

The news wasn't as positive for other area attorneys with disciplinary issues before the Nevada Supreme Court.

Former attorney Valner Johnson, in a joint agreement with the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board, was barred from practicing law for life.

Johnson's troubles date to late 2009, when the State Bar alleged the attorney falsified multiple court papers and provided them to a client; that he engaged in dishonest conduct including fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; and that he overdrew his client trust account, which holds client money.

Johnson faces three other matters pending with the State Bar, including one allegation of withholding settlement funds from a client and misrepresenting the settlement amount.

Another case relates to a federal indictment alleging Johnson tried to get a client to help perpetrate a felony. The final pending case accuses Johnson of falsifying a court order in a probate issue.

Attorney David Tanner's license was temporarily suspended after pleading guilty a year ago in a misdemeanor theft case in which he was ordered to pay more than $16,000 in restitution and to perform 100 hours of community service. Tanner faces a disciplinary hearing.

Attorney Brandon Smith's law license has not been suspended, but he was referred to the disciplinary board after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor stalking counts on Oct. 25, 2010.