Nevada Commission on Ethics vacates Devon Reese deferral agreement, refers matter for further proceedings

The Nevada Commission on Ethics voted unanimously among those voting on Jan. 16 to find that Reno City Council member Devon Reese failed to comply with a deferral agreement the commission had imposed and to vacate the agreement so the case can proceed to full adjudication.

Executive Director Ross Armstrong told the commission that a review panel had found just and sufficient cause to proceed on allegations of conduct that occurred after Reese entered the April 2023 deferral agreement. Armstrong said the new complaints included alleged improper use of city resources for private travel and noted the conduct occurred weeks after Reese completed required ethics training. "You can't be on a deferral agreement, and violate the ethics law and have nothing occur as a result," Armstrong said.

The vote follows competing proposals from the commission's executive director and from counsel for Reese. Attorney Jonathan Shipman, who said he represents Reese for the matter before the commission, argued…