Fallon Justice of the Peace Daniel Ward will appear today before Nevada's Commission on Judicial Discipline to face 15 counts charging him with ethical violations.
The violations, including that he interfered with a drug case involving his son, could result in Ward's removal from the bench.
Ward's lawyer Scott Freeman and prosecutor Mary Boetsch were reportedly attempting to work out a settlement.
Freeman was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Commission executive director and counsel Dave Sarnowski said the commission would have to approve any proposed settlement.
Ward is accused of warning a woman he issued a restraining order against not to work with the anti-drug task force investigating his son.
After the boy was arrested on drug charges, Ward is accused of using his influence and position to get him out of jail without posting bail.
He also refused to remove himself from handling a child-endangerment case involving his son's girlfriend, the charges say.
Several other counts allege that Ward misused his influence to give breaks to friends, ranging from fixing traffic tickets to trying to discourage prosecution of sexual molestation charges against a longtime acquaintance.
He refused to issue a warrant against a suspect prosecutors accused of sexual assault and lewdness with a 14-year-old girl and tried to prevent press coverage of that case, according to the charges.
Ward has denied wrongdoing in the case.
If found guilty, he could be removed from office and barred from holding any judicial office in the future.
-- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.
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