Municipal Court DUI Conference - Bios

Day 1 (Tuesday, November 14)

8:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies

James Carmany, Las Vegas Municipal Court Administrator

As Las Vegas Municipal Court administrator, Mr. Carmany reports to the Chief Judge and City Manager’s Office, and oversees a staff of 184 with a $23.8 million budget.  In addition to processing traffic and misdemeanor cases, the Municipal Court operates counseling services, a substance abuse evaluation center and a traffic school.  The court handles approximately 190,000 cases per year.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE:

• President and CEO of a publicly traded NYSE healthcare corporation.
• Served on the board of directors of two publicly traded corporations.
• Director of Clark County Juvenile Court (now Family and Youth Services) for Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court, supervising institutions, parole and probation.
• Served on the Nevada Governor's Council of Children and Youth, Nevada Task Force on Crime and Delinquency and the Southern Nevada Council of Social Services.
• Trainer and consultant, implementing training and team building projects for the National College of Trial Judges, National College of Juvenile Justice, Texas Juvenile Justice Council and the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

EDUCATION

Post Graduate
Advanced Executive Leadership Organizational Development Certificate in Court Administration	Stanford University University of California Long Beach National College of Court Administrators
Graduate Degree
MSSA	Case/Western Reserve University
College Degree
BA Sociology	Baldwin-Wallace College

Chief Judge Toy Gregory, Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge, Department 1

A resident of Las Vegas since 1946, Judge Toy R. Gregory practiced law with his father, Toy R. Gregory, Sr., under the firm name of Gregory and Gregory from 1958 until 1983. The majority of the firm’s work was in personal injury, although Judge Gregory was also active in domestic relations, contract and probate law. From 1964 to 1965, he was general counsel to the Nevada Savings and Loan Association and legal counsel for the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada from 1972 to 1982. He was a deputy attorney general from 1967 to 1970, while continuing his private practice. In January of 1983, he was appointed to Las Vegas Municipal Court. Judge Gregory has been re-elected each term since then.

Judge Gregory became chief judge in June 2000. During the past 12 years, the Las Vegas Review Journal and the Clark County Bar Association have conducted a survey wherein attorneys have rated judges. More than 80 percent of the attorneys responding stated that Judge Gregory should be retained.

Judge Gregory has continued his professional education at the National Judicial College and through the State Bar of Nevada and American Judges Association. He was a board member of the American Judges Association for six years. He holds memberships in the Clark County Bar Association, the State Bar of Nevada, and the American Bar Association. He was an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association from 1975-1983, and has been a guest speaker on tort law and product liability for the Idaho Trial Lawyers and American Trial Lawyers Associations.

Active in his community, he is also past president of the Las Vegas Junior Chamber of Commerce, past board member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and past president of Host Lions Club. Married and the father of five children, he enjoys fishing and golf. Judge Gregory received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1958, he graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Councilman Steve Wolfson, city of Las Vegas, Ward 2

In a historic special election in June 2004, Steve Wolfson was elected to the Las Vegas City Council. He represents Ward 2, which encompasses the westernmost portions of the city, including parts of Summerlin. On April 20, 2005, after running unopposed, he was sworn in for his first full term, which ends in June 2009.

Councilman Wolfson has many years of experience in the legal field. He has worked both in the private and public sectors, including positions with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office. He has also been active with the State Bar of Nevada by serving on the Board of Governors, the Judicial Ethics and Campaign Election Practices Committee, and other bar-related committees.  Additionally, Wolfson was chairman of the State Bar of Nevada Ethics 2000 Committee, a blue ribbon committee established by the Nevada Supreme Court, to review and bring up-to-date all Supreme Court rules involving attorney conduct.

As a city councilman, Wolfson serves on the Criminal Justice Advisory Council, the Emergency Operations Management Committee, the Southern Nevada Water Authority Board, and the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository Committee.  He is an alternate on the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition and the Nellis Civilian Military Board.

Wolfson is currently a member of the Latin and Asian Chambers of Commerce. Councilman Wolfson was born in Los Angeles, California. He received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law.

Councilman Wolfson has been married for 20 years to District Court Judge Jackie Glass. They have two daughters, Rachel, age 18, and Rebecca, age 14.

9 a.m.  Victim Impact Panel

Sandy Heverly, Executive Director and co-founder of STOP DUI.

Sandy Heverly is vigilant in her quest to STOP DUI.  She has worked with and provided assistance to thousands of DUI victims.  She is recognized nationally for her outstanding contributions regarding victims’ rights and DUI legislation.  Ms. Heverly founded and coordinates a speaker’s bureau that presents to schools, civic organizations, businesses, prisons and juvenile offender facilities.  Believing that DUI offenders should see and hear first hand the devastation caused to DUI victims, Ms. Heverly created the first DUI Victim Impact Panel concept in the nation. 

10:45 a.m. Snapshot of Nevada: Office of Traffic Safety Statistical Data

John Johansen, Nevada Office of Traffic Safety

John Johansen began working for the state of Nevada in 2000, as program officer for the Commission on Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment.  After completing the State of Nevada Master Plan for the Commission, he joined the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety as the impaired driving program manager in 2001.

Prior to joining the state, Mr. Johansen worked extensively as project manager for national general management consulting firms using experience gained in retail, wholesale and hospitality industries.

Mr. Johansen is a member of the Northern Nevada DUI Taskforce and a founding member of the Advisory Coalition on Impaired Driving.

Mr. Johansen has a bachelor of science degree from Colorado State University.

11:00 am Pass the Keys and Save a Life

P. Michael Murphy, M.B.A., D.B.A., Coroner

P. Michael Murphy has served as coroner for Clark County since June 2003 and assistant coroner/coroner recommended 10 months previously.  In addition, he served as the interim director of Juvenile Justice Services for Clark County from August 2005 until January 2006.

As coroner, Mr. Murphy brings 30 years of law enforcement experience to the position. Additionally, Michael has served on numerous committees on the federal, state and local level, and is a guest lecturer and instructor regarding law enforcement topics.

Michael has a doctoral degree in Business Administration from California Pacific University.  He received the Administrator of the Year Award from ASPA’s Nevada Chapter in 2004 and Clark County Director of the Year for 2006

1:15 p.m. DUI Courts: A New Venue

Judge Betsy Kolkoski, Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 2

Judge Betsy Kolkoski was appointed to Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 2 during the July 5, 2000, meeting of the Las Vegas City Council.  In April of 2001, she was elected to a four-year term and was re-elected in 2005.  She is the Las Vegas Municipal Court DUI Court Judge.   She tempers judicial authority in a manner that encourages teamwork and motivates defendants to maintain sober living and positive life choices.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Kolkoski served as an elder rights attorney for the Nevada Division of Aging Services for seven years.  She was first appointed by then-governor Bob Miller and re-appointed by Governor Kenny Guinn.  During her tenure, Judge Kolkoski was responsible for elder rights issues including guardianship, elder abuse and legal services development.  She provided legal counsel to senior, technical assistance and training to law enforcement and assistance to wards in contested guardianships. 

Judge Kolkoski previously served a hearing officer for the Nevada Taxicab Authority and the Nevada and Colorado departments of education, as well as practiced law in the private sector for nearly 20 years.  She earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1971 from the University of Cincinnati College Of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economic from Waterloo Lutheran University in Ontario, Canada in 1968.

Judge Anthony L. Abbatangelo, Justice Court, Las Vegas Township, Dept. 3

EDUCATION:	Semester at Sea, Fall of 1985 B.A., 1987, University of San Diego 1987, President, University of San Diego Student Body Oxford International and Comparative Law Institute, Summer of 1988 J.D., 1990, University of San Diego Law School 1990 Admitted Nevada Bar
EXPERIENCE:	Justice of the Peace, Las Vegas Justice Court Department 3 - September, 1996 to present Presiding Judge of 1st DUI Court in Nevada Recipient of Advanced Achievement in Judicial Education 2006 – Clark County Bar Survey – 92 % Retention Rating 2004 – Clark County Bar Survey – 94% Retention Rating 2000 – 2002 – 90% Clark Co. Bar Survey – 90% Retention Rating 1998 Clark County Bar Survey - 91% Retention Rating 1996 Clark County Bar Survey – 92% Retention Rating Judge, Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department   3, May 1993 to September 13, 1996  Private Practice - David Abbatangelo Law Offices - 1990 - 1993
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:	Member, American Bar Association Member, Nevada Bar Association Member, Clark County Bar Association  -Judicial Representative - Clark County Executive Board Member - January 16, 1997    -Trial by Peers Program - 1997 - 2002  -Public Service Committee of Clark County Bar - 1995 – 1998 Mountain Ridge Little League  – 2002 Asian Chamber Elected Official of the Year - 2000 Member, American Judges Association Member, Nevada Judges Association Nevada Supreme Court Task Force for Racial and Economic Diversity Member, Augustus Society  - 1997 - 2002 President - 1999 Member, Nevada Society of American-Italian Lawyers   Secretary 1992 – 1993 - 2002   Treasurer 1993 - 1994 1992 Young Lawyers Section - Vice Chair 1991 Young Lawyers Section - Secretary 1990 Young Lawyers Section - State Bar Executive Committee

Host - KCEP 88.1 FM - JUST US@ Program May, 1994 - May 1996  

Wife, Sue and four kids

Judge Larry Sage, Administrative, and Dept. 2 Sparks Municipal Court

Judge Larry Sage earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California (Berkeley, 1968); a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of Law (San Francisco, 1975); graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and has attended courses of the U.S. Army War College.  He has a Professional Development Certificate form the National Judicial College and both the Distinguished and Outstanding Jurist Awards from the Nevada Supreme Court. 

Judge Sage has strived to perform justly, skillfully and magnanimously, in all his duties in his 10 years in private practice, 10 years in public practice and criminal prosecution and the last 12 years as an elected Municipal Court judge.   He is a member of the California and Nevada Specialized Court Judges and was selected as the American Bar Association’s first Judicial Outreach Liaison for the Western Region of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

2:45 pm Treatment Works? (Panel)

Jennifer Donaldson, Westcare Program Coordinator

Ms Donaldson is a 14-year resident of Las Vegas. Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in Sociology in 1995.  She became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor with the state of Nevada in 1998.

Jennifer Donaldson serves as the program coordinator for Women’s Treatment Services for WestCare Nevada. She has 13 years of experience providing substance abuse treatment services including outpatient, residential and transitional housing. In May 2005, she was selected as an emerging leader in the substance abuse treatment field. As a result she was invited to participate in leadership Training sponsored by CASAT.

As the program coordinator of Women’s Treatment Services, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the WestCare Healthy Families & Women’s Residential Programs, management, supervision and ongoing program development by incorporating effective practice into a gender responsive treatment modality. Ms. Donaldson represents the program conducting outreach to community partner agencies to ensure a comprehensive continuum of services for all clients.

Melanie Fedraw, MA, NCC, Community Counseling Center Case Manager

Melanie received a masters degree in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Colorado (2005) and a business degree from George Fox University. She is a nationally certified counselor and a CADC Intern (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor). Melanie recently moved to Las Vegas and joined Community Counseling Center as a case manager, but her experience includes at-risk youth, residential treatment, family preservation and guidance counseling. 

Melanie uses existential therapy (client choice, freedom and responsibility) combined with reality/choice therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapies for assisting clients develop an awareness of distorted beliefs which negatively impact feelings and behavior.  With this awareness, clients become empowered to take responsibility and accountability toward making healthier choices in their lives and relationships. Additionally, Melanie has a passion for Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy where horses are used as a tool for emotional growth and learning. Memberships include ACA, IAAOC, ASERVIC and Chi Sigma Iota (CSI).

Cedric Cole, Neighborhood Initiatives Supervisor, City of Las Vegas

Mr. Cole is the neighborhood initiatives supervisor for the city of Las Vegas Department of Neighborhood Services. He is responsible for the city of Las Vegas’ (EVOLVE) workforce development center and oversees the implementation of specialized initiatives and programs targeting ex-offenders, chronic inebriates, people who are experiencing homelessness and women in transition.

Cedric has more than 10 years of experience in developing, monitoring and managing workforce development programs for specialized populations. He has served as the deputy director of the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board and as the deputy executive director in charge of workforce development for Nevada Partners Incorporated, a local nonprofit organization.

Mr. Pete Quigley, Cornerstone Counseling Center Counselor

Mr. Quigley was a police officer for the LVMPD for more than twenty years. His assignments included vice, organized crime, intelligence and narcotics. He retired in 1999. Mr. Quigley is a certified drug and alcohol counselor who has worked in outpatient and inpatient settings. He spent two years working at Indian Springs in their DUI program. He is currently employed as an adjunct instructor at the DUI camp and as a substance abuse counselor at Cornerstone Counseling Center.

4 p.m. Addicted to the Lifestyle/Criminal Thinking

Ricky McGee, L.A.D.C.

Ricky McGee worked for Westcare from 1987 to 2005. While employed by this organization, he held several positions. He started as a detox aide in the social model detox facility. Ricky later worked his way up to counselor intern in the boys residential program where he counseled troubled youth ages between the ages of 12 and 17. After he was certified as a counselor Ricky was moved to the Runaway Crisis Unit where he was promoted to senior counselor. When Mr. McGee resigned from Westcare , he was the program coordinator at the 4th Street T.C. (therapeutic community).

In 1998, Ricky went to work for Choices Unlimited as a counselor. This was the treatment facility for Drug Court. He was employed with them for 5 years and was involved with every aspect of the program. When Ricky left, he was the program director in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Adult, C.P.S., and Adolescent programs and  was responsible for supervising all clinical staff.

Ricky is also the founder and director for Hope House Inc., which has been in operation since 1987. It provides sober living environments (houses) for individuals recovering from alcohol and drug abuse.

Mr. McGee is currently employed by Cornerstone Counseling Center as a licensed substance abuse counselor. He has been with this agency for about two and a half years.

On October 26, 2006 Ricky McGee celebrated 20 years of recovery from alcohol and drug abuse.

Day 2 (Wednesday November 15)

8:30 a.m. Welcoming

James Carmany & Judge Kolkoski

9 a.m. Actions Speak Louder than Words

John Horton, Associate Deputy Director for State and Local Affairs, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

John Horton was appointed by the White House as associate deputy director for state and local affairs in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in March 2002. His focus includes methamphetamine, prescription drug abuse, state and local law enforcement and state legislation related to illicit drugs.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Horton served as a prosecutor in Multnomah County, Oregon, where he was cross-designated as a special assistant United States attorney. As a prosecutor, Mr. Horton handled different aspects of numerous criminal cases ranging from narcotics to fraud and homicide. He has instructed law enforcement and prosecutors on criminal law and procedure.

Mr. Horton also served as the legal counsel to the Oregon House Judiciary Committee on Criminal Law in 1999, where he was instrumental in writing Oregon’s identity theft law, felony drunk driving law, portions of revisions to Oregon’s homicide laws and the crime victims’ rights amendments to the Oregon Constitution. In the mid-1980s in Oregon, Horton served on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Drunk Driving.

Mr. Horton graduated from Willamette University and received his J.D. from University of Oregon. He also attended law school in Japan at Waseda University and worked in the finance industry for Deutsche Bank Capital Markets in Tokyo.

10:45 a.m. Stand Tall, Don’t Fall

Diane Pidsosny, Southern Nevada Stand Tall Coordinator

For the past six-plus years Diane has been the Southern Nevada Stand Tall coordinator with Nevada’s first Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) discretionary project. Diane works with Nevada law enforcement and many community organizations, and has also helped coordinate and train law enforcement around the state.

Through her collaboration with law enforcement, Diane has been instrumental in improving compliance rates by 40%, initiating compliance checks, third party purchaser operations for on-premise sales, fake ID checks and juvenile party dispersal activities. Diane has been very successful in developing and coordinating a variety of programs to educate people about the hazards of underage drinking. Two of these programs include a court ordered Juvenile Alcohol Diversion Program and Nevada's Alcohol Server Training with business in southern Nevada.

With the help of city officials, Diane has prospered in changing laws to create more stringent policies among underage drinkers. Diane’s achievements have received recognition in several publications distributed nationally.

Kathlyn G. Bartosz, Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Coordinator

Ms. Bartosz has served as the Nevada Statewide Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Coordinator for the past six years. During that time she has written and received five EUDL discretionary grant awards. 

Prior to her current position, Ms. Bartosz was the prevention specialist for the Nevada Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse for 13 years, and a Special Education Teacher at the junior high level for 8 years.

Ms. Bartosz has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a bachelor’s of arts in Education from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She has served on numerous statewide, regional and national prevention task forces throughout her professional career, and has been a Certified Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor since 1976.

Ms. Bartosz lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and two sons, and too many pets.

1:15 p.m. The Long Arm of the Law:

Bruce Nelson, Clark County Deputy District Attorney

BRUCE WILLIAM NELSON was born in 1958 in Kodiak, Alaska.  His childhood was spent in Alaska, Northern California, Thailand and San Diego. He graduated from Bonita Vista High School in 1976, University of Calif. at San Diego in 1980, and University of San Diego School of Law in 1983. He is licensed to practice law in Nevada and California as well as before the U.S. District Courts of Nevada and California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Bruce moved to Las Vegas in 1984. He worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the city of Las Vegas from 1987 to 1997 where he was very active in prosecuting DUI cases. Bruce began work for the Clark County District Attorney’s Office in 1997. Bruce is presently assigned to the Vehicular Crimes Unit.  

Bruce has taught numerous police academy classes on DUI law. He has been a speaker at many seminars on various topics and he has spoken at the National Judicial College on DUI prosecutions. Bruce has testified before the Nevada Legislature in support of various DUI Bills. Bruce has also authored two articles for the Nevada Lawyer Magazine:  “As Clear as Mud: Actual Physical Control Law in Nevada” and “The ABCs of FSTs”and “Forcible Blood Draws in Nevada” for the Comminunique Magazine. 

David Mincavage, Henderson Assistant City Attorney

David Mincavage has prosecuted cases for more than 15 years. From 1990 to 1993 he handled misdemeanor trials, grand jury presentations and felony jury trials as a deputy prosecutor for the County of Maui in Hawaii.  Since 1994, he has been the supervisor for the Criminal Division for the City of Henderson, Nevada.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, Criminal Justice section, Southern Nevada Domestic Violence Task Force, and was selected to serve on the committee to develop Nevada’s Best Practices Guide to Domestic Violence Prosecution.

Mike Davidson, North Las Vegas Chief Deputy City Attorney

Mike Davidson has been practicing law in southern Nevada since 1979 after receiving his Juris Doctor, with distinction, from the University of Arizona College of Law, where he served as executive editor of the Arizona Law Review. Following 20 years as a private practice civil and criminal trial lawyer, Mike joined the Clark County District Attorney’s Office as assistant district attorney from 1998 to 2003. After a brief return to private practice, Mike was named chief deputy city attorney for North Las Vegas in December 2004.

Mike is a member of the state bars of Nevada and Arizona and is admitted to practice in all Federal Courts including the United States Supreme Court. He has served as a Juvenile Court alternate referee, small claims hearing master and currently serves as a Nevada Supreme Court settlement judge. Other service to the legal community includes two terms as a Nevada State Bar Governor; state chair of the Fee Dispute Committee; Supreme Court jury improvement commissioner; Nevada Children’s Justice Task Force; Nevada Center For Law Related Education Board of Governors.

Recognized with the highest legal and ethical rating by his peers, Mike has also received the Clark County Pro Bono Outstanding Domestic Relations Attorney, CASA Guardian Ad Litem Award and the Pro Bono Access to Justice Award as well as appearing in the Who’s Who in Practicing Attorneys and Who’s Who in Southern Nevada Business.

Community activities include the Las Vegas Natural History Museum Board of Directors, Nevada High School Mock Trial Competition judge, Junior League of Las Vegas “The Divorce Experience” instructor and Clark County School District “Parents and the Law” instructor.

2:30 p.m. The Many Faces of DUI

Officer Karl Neiberlein, Traffic Accident Inspector, Sparks Police Department

Officer Nieberlein is an 18 year veteran officer of the Sparks Police Department. He is currently assigned to the Traffic Services Unit of the Patrol Division as a traffic accident investigator. He is also assigned to the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).

Officer Nieberlein was first certified in the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) in 1988. He was certified as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) in 1990, being trained by the Reno Police Department and the California Highway Patrol.

In 1999, Officer Nieberlein received certification as a Standardized Field Sobriety Instructor upon completion of the course from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He began instructing SFST at the Nevada Peace Officers Standards and Training academy that year. He also attended the Drug Recognition Expert Instructor training program at the California Highway Patrol.

In 2000, Officer Nieberlein was certified by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as a Drug Recognition Expert Course Manager. He also was certified as a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). He became the designated Course Manager for DRE schools here in Nevada.

In 2004, Officer Nieberlein was awarded the Award for Outstanding Program Innovation by the Citizens Against Drug Impaired Drivers (CANDID) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) at the 11th Annual Drugs Alcohol and Impaired Driving Conference. He was nominated by the Nevada State DRE Coordinator for this annual award. Because of this award and the effort he put forth in the DRE program, the IACP has used him numerous times to instruct the DRE curriculum and manage DRE schools nationwide. He was instrumental in the first schools taught in the State of Alaska and the State of Tennessee.

Officer Nieberlein wrote a three year training grant to the State of Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety to provide Drug Recognition Expert training statewide. This grant was awarded, and is currently funded through fiscal year 2007.  Once the grant expires, it will have left behind a self sustaining DRE program in southern Nevada, to match the existing program in northern Nevada.

Officer Nieberlein is appointed to represent the Sparks Police Department at the Northern Nevada DUI Task Force. Additionally, he represents law enforcement on the Attorney Generals Advisory Coalition on Impaired Driving. He was instrumental in creating and advancing current Bill Draft Request 672, which if passed into law will create a self sustained impaired driving fund to provide funds for enforcement, training and education on impaired driving issues.

Rob Honea

4 p.m. Closing Remarks