Freed After 14 Years, Innocent Man Sues Cop & Prosecutor

LAS VEGAS (CN) - A man who spent 14 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of sexually molesting his 8-year-old daughter has sued Clark County; his prosecutor, Thomas Moreo, still a deputy district attorney for Clark County; Las Vegas police Det. Gary Jacobsen, who arrested him and testified against him; Rene McClymont Butts, a nurse who examined his daughter and a Clark County employee; and his public defender,Drew Christensen.

Plaintiff Robert Hays was released from Nevada State Prison in March at the order of U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt, who declared that "not only is Hays innocent of the charges against him, but that his criminal prosecution was wrought with constitutional violations so egregious, resulting in consequences to grave, and incarceration so lengthy, that Mr. Hays is entitled to immediate and unconditional release." Hays says his ex-wife cooked up the charge so she could run off with her boyfriend. He says his ex threatened his daughter with death unless she accused him, and that both recanted, but the defendants prosecuted him anyway, and that Jacobsen falsified testimony to do so. Hays is represented in Federal Court by Gordon & Silver. See complaint.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit