Former head of criminal repository indicted

The former head of Nevada's Criminal History Repository and one of his top managers have been indicted by a Clark County grand jury.

Daryl Riersgard, who ran the repository, and Jeff Artz, his former program manager, are accused of allowing family members to take expensive and sophisticated fingerprinting machines for use in their private businesses.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen said Riersgard and Artz gave permission for Anthony Carillo, owner of Fingerprinting Pros in Las Vegas, to take one of the machines out of the Las Vegas Parole and Probation office for his business.

The indictment accuses Riersgard and Artz of misconduct by a public officer, fraudulent appropriation of property and theft. Artz faces an additional theft count.

"Government employees should never expect to benefit themselves or their families simply by virtue of their position in government," said Hafen.

Riersgard was brought to the Department of Public Safety from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office by then-director Dick Kirkland to clean up the operations of the repository, eliminate backlogs and speed its handling of background checks, including those for potential Nevada Highway Patrol applicants.

Both men have since left the department.

They will be arraigned in Clark County District Court on Dec. 29.