Attorney Stephen Stubbs was found guilty of battery in Boulder City Municipal Court on May 1.
The charge stemmed from a Feb. 20 incident during which Stubbs claimed he was hit by a truck driven by Steven Wilson, the estranged spouse of his client, Jean Wilson. According to Stubbs, Steven Wilson physically assaulted him, after which Stubbs instinctively “punched him in the eye.”
According to Stubbs, the Feb. 20 incident involved the ownership and occupancy of a residence on Nadine Way that came into question after a domestic dispute between Jean Wilson and Steven Wilson about seven months ago.
Stubbs said Steven Wilson made “untrue” accusations against his wife during that incident that led to her arrest.
While she was out of the house, Steven Wilson took possession of the property.
Even with a protective order, Jean Wilson was not able to get into her home, he said.
On Feb. 20, after a court appearance during which Jean Wilson was given legal possession of the home and a judge ordered Steven Wilson to vacate, Stubbs became the focus of increasingly hostile verbal assaults from Steven Wilson.
Stubbs said court bailiffs had to stay late in court so he could safely leave.
Later that day, as Jean Wilson was taking possession of the home, Steven Wilson drove to the property and hit Stubbs with his truck as the attorney was standing in the driveway looking at his cellphone, Stubbs said.
Video evidence of the incident shown at the trial showed Stubbs lying on the ground yelling expletives at Steven Wilson as Wilson calmly walked over him.
About 30 minutes into the trial, Stubbs asked Judge Maragaret Whittaker to dismiss the case, saying that City Attorney Dave Olsen showed Steven Wilson evidence before the trial without disclosing the information first.
Whittaker dismissed the request.
Stubbs also questioned the integrity of Boulder City Police Department when he interrogated Officer Todd Huff on the stand.
Huff was the first officer to arrive on scene. He asked Huff if the officers intentionally botched the investigation because they had a vendetta against him, citing that Huff’s original measurement of Stubbs’ injury was off by 4 inches.
After three hours of testimony that included a video recording of the incident, as well as footage from Huff’s police car and audio from his radio during the investigation, Whittaker ruled that Stubbs did not act in self-defense and found him guilty of simple battery.
He was assessed a $500 fine.
“We gave him a number of opportunities for a plea agreement, but he declined,” Olsen said.
After the verdict was read, Stubbs appealed in District Court. Because Boulder City Municipal Court is not a court of record, Olsen said once Stubbs’ appeal is filed it will be as if the original trial never happened. In this case, the Municipal Court hearing allows both parties to prepare for arguments against their opponents.
“I do not agree with the verdict and I’m confident I’ll win the appeal,” Stubbs said.
Stubbs was due in court Monday on an obstruction charge that stemmed from a November incident in Las Vegas. That hearing was postponed.