LAS VEGAS -- A peace officer with his own criminal conviction has completed his probation six months early. The I-Team was the first to report on the arrest of courthouse marshal Travis Best for an off-duty incident involving his neighbor.
As part of a deal with prosecutors, Best pleaded guilty in March to a gross misdemeanor. In exchange, he received a year of probation and upon successful completion, the chance to plead to a lesser charge. That chance came early last week when a justice of the peace closed Best's case at his attorney's request.
Best was initially arrested on a felony weapons charge in June of last year. According to his own witness statements to police, Best pulled his gun to stop a driver he believed was speeding in a residential neighborhood. Best claimed he feared for the safety of several teenagers walking in the street.
Court policy forbids marshals from performing law enforcement functions off-duty unless for the protection of life and limb.
The man at the other end of Best's gun, Greg Ordaz, denies speeding and says he thought he was being car-jacked.
Despite his criminal conviction, Best returned to his post in Justice Court 14 earlier this year at the insistence of his judge, Conrad Hafen. Hafen explains best has served in a "professional and exemplary" manner.
According to the court minutes, Best paid his fines and fees of $275 and completed a court-ordered carrying a concealed weapons class. As such, he was permitted to plead guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.
The early end to his probation, according to the prosecutor, is not unusual even for those with a felony conviction. The judge waived Best's presence for the hearing because he was doing his job in another courtroom.
