LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The attorney for the man who vandalized several Nevada public officials’ homes said his client had no intention to solicit the murder of a judge and several other people, including two reporters.
Earlier this year, Charles Dowling, 21, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to several charges, including stalking and extortion, for a series of events beginning last spring.
On June 17, 2023, Dowling went to several “public officials’ homes, vandalizing [them] and bringing a knife to terrorize and attempt to influence the action of the public officials regarding perceived grievances the subject has against each person,” documents said. The homes belong to Democratic Nevada Assembly Speaker Yeager and his wife, Bita Yeager, a district court judge; former Republican Nevada Assemblyman Tom Roberts; and a Henderson city employee.
As part of a plea agreement, Judge Ronald Israel was due to sentence Dowling to a suspended jail sentence and order him to attend inpatient mental health treatment, documents said. But prosecutors said the deal may fall apart after Dowling sent a letter to his ex-partner from jail.