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Las Vegas Sheriff Defies Judge’s Release Order as Defendant Is Rearrested

The Nevada Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether LVMPD can deny electronic monitoring on public-safety grounds.

Overview

  • Police took Joshua Sanchez-Lopez back into custody Wednesday on new allegations that include stealing mail, an apparent fraud lab at his residence, narcotics possession, and related identity-theft offenses.
  • The rearrest came a day before a hearing in his earlier grand larceny of a motor vehicle case, where a motion seeking to hold Metro in contempt for not following the judge’s release order is moving forward.
  • Justice of the Peace Eric Goodman had set $25,000 bail in January with high-level electronic monitoring if released, but LVMPD declined to enroll him in its program, citing safety risks.
  • Sheriff Kevin McMahill and LVMPD have asked the Nevada Supreme Court to intervene to block the order, arguing state law lets the department refuse electronic supervision for high-risk defendants.
  • Public defenders say LVMPD is unlawfully overriding judicial authority; police note Sanchez-Lopez’s lengthy record and a 2020 incident involving flight from officers while armed, as Gov. Joe Lombardo publicly backs Metro’s stance.