Arberry’s woes

Former Assemblyman Morse Arberry’s Las Vegas district was so loaded with registered Democrats that he never faced a serious election challenge during his 25 years in the Legislature. Arberry was politically bulletproof, and he conducted himself as such.

His seniority eventually led him to chair the powerful Assembly Ways and Means Committee — where he exercised vast power over state tax and spending issues — even though he was perpetually delinquent on his property taxes, special improvement district assessments, sewer bills and other financial obligations. And that was the small stuff.

With each new Arberry controversy — moving into a gated country club far away from his district; making a mockery of the Ethics Commission by essentially claiming amnesia during testimony; drawing full pay from his city of Las Vegas job during legislative sessions by claiming sick pay and hours worked; incorporating a lobbying business while serving as a lawmaker — the party insiders and elite would chuckle and brush off “Moose being Moose.”

So it wasn’t surprising when Arberry, who retired last year a couple of months before term limits would have forced him from office, was accused on Friday of new ethical transgressions. What was surprising: The accusations were contained in a criminal complaint brought by Democratic Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and investigated by Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller.

Arberry faces six felony counts and years in prison over allegations he deposited more than $120,000 in campaign contributions into a personal checking account without reporting the donations to the state in 2008 and 2009. That the matter is being prosecuted as a criminal case indicates the seriousness of the allegations.

Ms. Cortez Masto and Mr. Miller, who have been criticized for making decisions seen as putting partisanship over the law, deserve credit for bringing this case against Arberry.

Of course, Arberry enjoys the presumption of innocence in defending himself against the charges of perjury and filing false documents. However, we offer this bit of advice to his attorney: Collect your fees up front.