Potts lawyer says client will fight firing, charges

The lawyer for Randy Potts said he doesn't expect his client to end up losing his job or in prison.

Potts is facing four felony charges stemming from a trip he took while head of cyber-security for the Nevada Department of Information Technology. He is accused of theft, embezzlement, attempted misuse of public money and falsifying documentation in connection with a trip to attend a multistate homeland security conference on cyber-security in Denver, Colo., in late November 2005. He submitted $1,757 in expenses upon his return.

But investigators say there was no such conference and that Potts, in justifying the trip, submitted a falsified flier describing the conference.

Potts has been charged criminally and DOIT Director Terry Savage has filed the paperwork to terminate him from his job.

Reno lawyer James Andre Boles said the issues raised about the trip had already been resolved when the attorney general's office got into the case in March.

"Let me just say for the record that these charges are unfounded and bizarre," he said.

He said his client intends to fight both the criminal charges and the attempt to terminate him.

"We do not expect him to be terminated and, as for the criminal matter, we'll see what happens when we put it in front of 12," said Boles referring to a jury trial.

He said a pre-termination hearing is scheduled May 18 and, if the state doesn't drop the effort to fire Potts, they will take the case to a hearing officer and then district court if necessary.

Potts is scheduled for a justice court appearance on the charges May 30.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.