An annual national survey (reported by CQ Press) this morning named Nevada the most crime-ridden state in the country. The authors of the study report:

"Ranked least favorably among the states was Nevada, followed by Louisiana and South Carolina. Nevada’s murder rate was nearly seven times higher than New Hampshire’s, and the Silver State reported a rape rate of 43 cases per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 30. Nevada also tops the list for robbery rate, with an average 270 reported cases per 100,000 citizens versus the national average of 148."

Does this surprise anyone? Here is a photo that Buffet photographer Sarah Gerke took while out for a stroll on the Strip this weekend. It is a familiar sight.

It seems obvious that Vegas and Reno are the centers for where much of this crime takes place, as about 80% of the rest of Nevada is federal land. Living here and seeing and even being a victim of the crime that takes place in this city daily might in part explain my aversion to Metro using valuable police resources and court time to arrest women for trespassing in Strip hotels and then claiming that this is actively fighting prostitution.

Oh, and I must mention the bogus ticket I got for driving past an orange cone placed dangerously in the middle of a highway off-ramp next to my home. Of course, there were no police near the  cone and reversing on an off-ramp would have had me driving over the motorcycle behind me. But when the car in front of me, myself and the motorcyclyst were all waiting for the light to change (what criminals!) at the end of the off-ramp, an officer drove up and gave us all tickets for running a police barricade. Can there be a police barricade without police?  A week later, the police sent me an amended ticket telling me that I failed to obey "a traffic control device." Of course, there was no way to obey the authority of the dreaded and ubiquitous orange cone in the middle of a one-way off-ramp. I might add that in Vegas there are orange cones everywhere, strewn in random places, left by gardeners and construction crews or sometimes just blown there by the wind. My court date is March 31.

So, Nevada has outrageous rates for murder, rape and robbery. And I really wish that was the focus of our police instead of catching trespassing alleged hookers, or me standing in front of the judge with an officer off the street to be in court for our discussion of orange cones.

Photo: Sarah Gerke

About a year ago I was watching a cable news show. I am sorry I do not remember which one. A woman was being interviewed who claimed she had been sold into slavery. She told the host that she had been held captive in a sort of slave way-station that is secretly run in the basement of a Las Vegas resort. The credulous interviewer never even asked the name of the casino this lady was alleging was involved in the slave trade. He only bemoaned that this was happening in Las Vegas and no one cared.

At the time, I gave the entire thing a Jerry Springer level of credibility. I would stake what little I have in this universe that no resort in Vegas keeps slaves in a secret basement.

But that does not mean there is not actual slavery that takes place in Las Vegas. According to KLAS:

"In 2004, Metro, working with the Department of Justice and FBI, arrested five people under Operation Jade Blade. Police say the ring forced Asian men and women to engage in sex acts for money."

The Review-Journal reports that former Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone may be in negotiations for a plea deal. No one expected this to happen at such a late date. Malone is the alleged bagman for the bribes his fellow former commissioners have been convicted of accepting from the owner of a topless bar. So, Malone's voice on wiretaps was a constant presence in the most recent Strippergate trial; he has also already been convicted of related charges in San Diego. If a plea happens, that should be the end of the entire affair of three years of filth from the ties between one strip club owner and county politicians: not with a bang but a whimper. Of course, now we have the city and Rick Rizzolo of Crazy Horse Too to watch.

The other case in trial now: a Family Court judge, Judge Jones, accused of attacking his live in girlfriend. Since the charges, the judge and girlfriend have reconciled and are once again living together. According to the Review-Journal, Amy McNair offered in court the following explanation for her injuries, which once she said were caused by Judge Jones: "She said she had rubbed her right side of her face against the carpet so roughly that she made herself vomit from the pain. She had discolored her eye by 'thumbing' herself repeatedly around the socket." Amy McNair now tells the court about Judge Jones: "He's an innocent man."

The trial continues today.

Las Vegas police also were hesitant to provide statistics about violence in Las Vegas' gaming corridor. Tourist Safety Bureau Sgt. Wayne Holman on Tuesday wouldn't comment on which Strip properties had more crime than others. 'It wouldn't be right to comment,' Holman said.