THE UNTOUCHABLE LARRY LOMAX
The IAP is authorized to arrest Clark County's voter registrar, so why haven't they done so?

Everyone hates pests. And although he's registered as a non-partisan, Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax seems to have a thing against the Independent American Party. Certainly, ever since Independent American Party Chairman Christopher Hansen has tried to have him arrested, it's fair to say Lomax sees Hansen and his party as bothersome as a hoard of cockroaches under the sink.

"It's not us he's out to get," Hansen said. "It's a civil conspiracy against what we stand for."

On May 12, Lance Hinton applied to register to vote as a member of the IAP. Hinton also had plans on running for Clark County Treasurer. Those plans were never seen through as Hinton was denied registration by Lomax. There were no grounds for the denial and when Liberty Watch: The Magazine attempted to contact Lomax for comment, we were first told he was "in a meeting" then he was "out of town."

Hansen and his party are then left to believe it's some sort of vendetta against anyone who is not a "Good Ole Boy," as Hansen put it.

Nevada Revised Statute 293.5045 reads:

1. A person who works in a voter registration agency shall not: (c) Make any statement or take any action to discourage an applicant from registering to vote;

2. A person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.

By not allowing Hinton to register, Hansen says that's a clear discouragement and therefore is a felony. Hansen, Hinton and the IAP requested a Writ of Mandamus ordering Lomax to fulfill his duty as registrar and allow Hinton to vote and run. 

In an encouraging case of the judicial system working in favor of the people versus the government, Judge Timothy Williams of the Clark County District Court ordered Lomax to register Hinton. But the damage and the felony had already been done. 

Lomax and his attorney, Clark County Counsel, Mary-Anne Miller appealed the ruling to the Nevada Supreme Court. The court ruled 7-0 to uphold Judge William's decision stating that, "Mr. Lomax had no statutory authority to do anything other than accept Mr. Hinton's application and to register Mr. Hinton as a Nevada voter."

Usually, when a person commits a felony, the police are required to arrest them. But Lomax has not been arrested. After Hinton and Hansen's attempt to arrest him, those with the ability have instead rallied around Lomax and even filed suits against Hansen preventing him from making a private person's arrest.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger's office has not taken any steps to bring charges against Lomax because it says it would be a conflict of interest. That's because the DA represented Lomax in his appeal to the Supreme Court. The next step would be Nevada's Attorney General, George Chanos. But instead, Chanos threatened Hansen with arrest for false imprisonment if he were to place a private person's arrest on Lomax. 

Hansen said that Chanos' actions were felonies themselves. 

NRS 195.030 Accessories reads:

Every person not standing in the relation of husband or wife, brother or sister, parent or grandparent, child or grandchild, to the offender, who:

1. After the commission of a felony harbors, conceals or aids such offender with intent that he may avoid escape from arrest, trial, conviction or punishment, having knowledge that such offender has committed a felony or is liable to arrest, and is an accessory to the felony.

So if no one is going to stop the law-breaking in Nevada, where can Hansen, Hinton and the IAP go? Hansen reached out to the FBI. However, the agency only handles federal matters and this is clearly a Nevada problem.

"I do believe something needs to be done with Larry Lomax," Hinton said. "He shouldn't be anybody special and not have to answer for anything he's done."

Hansen is hopeful that the incoming Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto will be a little more apt to upholding the law and actually prosecuting criminals. 

With a strong history of government corruption in Nevada, someone has to start being held accountable. The IAP is sure (and the Nevada Supreme Court agrees) that Larry Lomax has abused his position. Now, he's hiding behind his governmental friends and has become untouchable. This isn't the first time Lomax has refused IAP members' applications. Two years ago, Brad Barnhill and Catherine Donkers were also denied.

"He's a little, petty tyrant," Hansen said. "It's his way or no way."

But his way is illegal and that kind of preferential activity is spreading amongst Nevada's law enforcement. Much like the one pest you find in your kitchen, there is bound to be more. You just hope your exterminator isn't cockroach friendly. LW