Former sheriff files lawsuit against county

Former Eureka County Sheriff Jesse Watts has filed a sweeping civil complaint against Eureka County, alleging that county officials repeatedly violated Nevada law by conducting a series of improper, retaliatory investigations that ultimately forced him into retirement earlier this year. 

The complaint, filed Nov. 12 in the Seventh Judicial District Court, claims that county officials used non-law-enforcement personnel, outside investigators and human resources staff to conduct investigations into the sheriff despite statutory requirements that such inquiries must be initiated and led by peace officers within a law enforcement agency. Watts argues these violations stripped him of the protections guaranteed under Nevada’s Peace Officer Bill of Rights, codified in Chapter 289 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.

At the heart of the lawsuit is Nevada Revised Statute 289.057, which states that any investigation of a peace officer for alleged misconduct must be conducted by a law enforcement agency in situations that could result in punitive action. Watts asserts that Eureka County repeatedly ignored this requirement. 

According to the filing, the county’s human resources department, which is not a law enforcement agency, launched the first inquiry into Watts on Nov. 8, 2023, notifying him of a misconduct investigation to be led by an individual who was not a peace officer. 

A second notification, similar to the one given to Watts in Nov. 2023, followed on Jan. 25, 2024, again assigning a non-peace-officer investigator.

Outside investigators from Spencer Investigations (SI), also composed of non-peace officers, were later called in by the county district attorney to pursue additional lines of inquiry without notifying Watts. 

The county later sent certified letters in late 2024, demanding that Watts submit to interviews with non-peace officers – requests he refused on statutory grounds. 

The complaint repeatedly cites the Nevada Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in City of Las Vegas v. Las Vegas Police Protective Association, which held that internal investigations into peace officers must be conducted only by agencies and officers authorized under NRS 289.

Watts claims that after invoking his rights under NRS 289 following the first investigation, the county continued to pursue prohibited investigative actions, escalating both pressure and scrutiny. 

The lawsuit outlines a series of events in 2024:

• Feb. 1, 2024: Watts publicly reiterated his statutory rights at a board of county commissioners meeting.
• Feb. – March 2024: County officials allegedly initiated two additional outside investigations without notifying him.
• June 28, 2024: The county forwarded an SI investigative report to the Nevada Attorney General and federal officials, again without notifying Watts.
• July 2024: After the report became public, a community member called for Watts’ resignation during a public meeting.

Later that month, residents launched a recall petition based in part on the SI report.

Watts contends that the sequence of events created untenable professional conditions and irreversible reputational harm. He states that he was “forced to retire” on April 1, 2025.

The complaint argues that evidence collected during these investigations is inadmissible under NRS 289.085, which requires dismissal of any administrative actions when evidence is obtained in violation of POBR protections, particularly when done in bad faith. Watts alleges Eureka County acted in bad faith by knowingly assigning non-qualified investigators, continuing investigations after being advised of the statutory violations, using evidence derived from unauthorized inquiries and taking adverse actions based on improper investigative reports.

The complaint asserts that such actions tainted all proceedings and contributed directly to the public accusations and the recall effort.

Watts brings three legal claims:

1. Declaratory Relief: He asks the court to determine that the county violated NRS Chapter 289 and acted in bad faith by using non-law-enforcement agencies and investigators.
2. Extraordinary Relief: Under NRS 289.120, Watts seeks a court order declaring all evidence and investigations invalid and finding that he was aggrieved by the county’s violations.
3. Injunctive Relief: Watts seeks a permanent order barring the county from violating peace officer protections under NRS 289, conducting improper investigations in the future and retaliating against him for asserting his statutory rights.

The complaint also requests attorney’s fees and any additional relief the court deems appropriate.

Because he is no longer employed with the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office, Watts states that no internal grievance process remains available to challenge the alleged violations, making the matter suitable for judicial review. 

As of the filing date, the county has not yet issued a public response. The lawsuit is expected to draw significant attention, given the implications not only for Eureka County but for the statewide interpretation of the Nevada Peace Officer Bill of Rights.

If the court rules in Watts’ favor, it could set a precedent affecting how counties and municipalities throughout Nevada conduct internal investigations into peace officers and could restrict the use of outside or non-law-enforcement personnel.

Watts declined to comment further. Calls to the Eureka County District Attorney’s s office requesting comment have not yet been returned.