CASE 10. 14
Officials Who Sell Public Records: Is There a Problem?
Clark County Recorder Frances Deane has been indicted by State of Nevada on nineteen felony counts, including misconduct of public officer, fraudulent appropriation of property, theft and unlawful commissions, personal profit, and compensation of public officers. Ms. Deane is accused of copying public land records to sell to businesspeople who planned to create a title plant that would be far less expensive for others to use than the million- dollar access fees charged to those who wish to join and use the resources of title companies title service.
In exchange for providing the copied public land records, Ms.Deane is alleged to have received cash payments. Gekko testified on witness stand that Ms.Deane explained her decision to copy the record and take the cash as follows:” I’m not going to get re-elected, so it’s time for me to get a piece like every one else.” Ms. Deane, through her lawyer, stipulated to action by Nevada Ethics Commission a resolution that permitted her to keep her position. A state removed Ms.Deane from her position as recorder until the trial on the felony counts was completed.
Unlimited sources of funds often is used to justify behavior. In Government contracts the supply of funds seems endless and the competition is thiff. The benefit and pressures often cause poor resolutions of ethical dilemmas.