Troubled Nevada lawmaker fired from Las Vegas city job

LAS VEGAS - An embattled Nevada state lawmaker who has been fighting to keep his seat in the Legislature amid criminal and personal issues has been fired from his city of Las Vegas job, officials said Monday.

Assemblyman Steven Brooks' dismissal after nearly six years as a Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services management analyst became effective Thursday, city spokesman David Riggleman said.

Riggleman said personnel confidentiality rules prohibited him from saying more.

Brooks' lawyer, Mitchell Posin, called the firing "unfortunate" and said he'll meet with Brooks and review the city decision before deciding whether to challenge it.

Brooks, D-North Las Vegas, was suspended without pay from the city job in January, days after North Las Vegas police investigating a report that he wanted to harm Democratic state party leader Marilyn Kirkpatrick arrested him Jan. 19 in a car with a gun and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

He spent a night in jail, but the state attorney general's office hasn't filed criminal charges in that case.

Later that week, Brooks was hospitalized for a five-day psychiatric evaluation after Las Vegas police were called to the home of Brooks' grandmother on a report of a disturbance involving a sword.

Separately, Brooks is fighting felony and lesser charges stemming from allegations that he scuffled with a Las Vegas police officer called by Brooks' wife Feb. 10 on a report of a domestic argument. He faces a May 7 evidentiary hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Posin has said Brooks will plead not guilty and fight the charges.

Brooks, 41, was sworn in to a second term in the Legislature on Feb. 4 but has been banned him from the legislative building in Carson City.

An order from Assembly Democratic leader William Horne cites allegations that Brooks engaged in "unethical" and "deleterious" conduct that "adversely affects the integrity and credibility of the Nevada Assembly," and that he "may present a direct threat to others."

Brooks, through Posin, is asking the state Supreme Court to void that order, saying his legislative colleagues don't have the authority to strip him of his elected position.