Deputy resigns following conviction

A Douglas County deputy resigned Monday following a misdemeanor conviction for brandishing a weapon, the sheriff said.

"Adam Spoon chose to resign rather than face disciplinary action for his conviction," said Sheriff Ron Pierini.

On March 3, a Carson City judge found Spoon, 29, guilty of illegally pointing a weapon at a couple on a motorcycle during a traffic dispute at Carson and William streets. Spoon was in his civilian vehicle and off-duty at the time of the Sept. 24 incident.

Spoon said he was in fear for his life when it appeared the man was trying to get off his motorcycle following an argument about tailgating.

The judge refused to allow in evidence Spoon's training as an officer and facts about a shooting in Douglas County in which Spoon was among deputies ambushed at a trailer park there. Spoon said he found the ruling to be detrimental to his case.

"I was told as a peace officer I should know better, but (was) not allowed to enter in my training as evidence," he wrote in an e-mail on Wednesday.

Spoon had been with the department for three years, and was reassigned to the jail pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Pierini said when Spoon tendered his resignation, an internal board was in the process of reviewing the incident to determine whether to suspend Spoon or release him. Pierini declined to reveal the group's finding.

Spoon's attorney Gene Drakulich told the judge during the March 4 trial that the deputy would probably lose his job due to the conviction. Judge Steve McMorris agreed, sentencing Spoon to neither a fine nor community service.

Victims Sean and Julie Bowers' attorney, Day Williams, said his clients were pleased with the outcome.

"We feel this is a successful conclusion to this matter," he said.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.