Candidate pays bill to end bad check case

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LAS VEGAS - A candidate seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. Harry Reid avoided arrest on a felony charge by paying $5,575 to cover a bounced check and court fees, a prosecutor said Thursday.

A Las Vegas judge was expected to approve withdrawal today of criminal charges against Scott Ashjian, Chief Deputy District Attorney Bernie Zadrowski said.

Ashjian could have faced up to 14 years in state prison and would have been banned from running for elected office if he was convicted of theft and bad check charges.

"He came in yesterday and made full restitution," said Zadrowski, chief of the bad check unit.

Ashjian, 46, did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment. A telephone listing for him had been disconnected.

Ashjian is one of a record 22 candidates, including 12 Republicans, seeking to challenge Reid in November. The Democratic Senate majority leader is seeking a fifth term.

Ashjian filed to run as the Nevada Tea Party candidate, but the Tea Party Express, one of the most visible factions of the national movement, has distanced itself from Ashjian and accused him of trying to split the party vote to help Reid. Ashjian has denied

the allegation.

The tea party movement is a conservative coalition angered by federal spending, rising taxes and the growth and reach of government.

Ashjian has an asphalt company in Las Vegas.

In a separate issue, the Nevada State Contractors Board revoked his contractor's license last week and ordered him to pay more than $2,600 in fines and costs stemming from a complaint on a separate bounced check to a materials supplier. That check totaled less than $1,000.

The contractors board fine and fees were not paid as of Thursday, board spokesman Art Nadler said.

Public documents also showed Ashjian faced foreclosure on home loans totaling almost $1 million, owed a $200,000 Internal Revenue Service tax debt and faced liens and city nuisance actions.

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