Suspended Pahrump judge Michele Fiore denies misusing memorial donations at Nevada judicial discipline hearing

What happened

Michele Fiore, the suspended Pahrump justice of the peace and former Las Vegas councilwoman, testified Monday that she did not use donated money for personal expenses, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. She spoke on the first day of a hearing before the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline.

The commission has charged Fiore with three violations of conduct rules tied to the actions behind her 2024 guilty verdict on conspiracy and wire fraud charges. According to the Review-Journal, Monday marked the first time she testified directly about the scheme involving a memorial statue.

The case behind the hearing

Fundraising for the Beck memorial

Federal prosecutors accused Fiore of raising tens of thousands of dollars for a park and statue honoring Alyn Beck, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who was shot and killed in 2014. Previous trial testimony showed the statue was built but paid for by developer Olympia Companies, the Review-Journal reported. Prosecutors said Fiore spent the donations on personal costs, including rent, plastic surgery and her daughter's wedding.

A pardon that did not end the discipline case

A federal jury found Fiore guilty, and President Donald Trump pardoned her in April 2025. The pardon did not resolve the separate judicial discipline proceedings, and the commission suspended her from the bench, where she remains suspended. Fiore has tried to get the charges dismissed and has said the commission is improperly mixing the jury verdict with judicial misconduct based on actions that came before her time as a judge.

What Fiore told the commission

Denying personal use of donations

Fiore said she and her staff sought donations for a range of events and services, and that some money went to park-related mailers, calls and community event costs. She estimated she "easily" spent at least $160,000 from her campaign on community events from July 2019 to February 2020. Asked whether she ever spent donations for personal use, she answered, "Never, never, never," the Review-Journal reported.

She also said no donor has ever asked for their money back, and told her lawyer she would have reimbursed anyone who did. "My life has been ruined for two and a half years," Fiore said, adding that she is no longer a judge because of the case.

Her account of the statue bill

Fiore testified that she raised money for more than the Beck statue and never received a bill from Olympia for it. She said she eventually assumed Olympia Companies chief executive Garry Goett had taken care of the cost. "I had no idea Garry Goett was not going to give me a bill," she said.

Pay, the primary and the governor

Salary while suspended

In April, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld Fiore's suspension with pay. Nye County spokesman Arnold Knightly said that as of June she had made nearly $200,000 in salary and benefits since her July 2024 indictment, and that payments will continue until the end of her term unless otherwise instructed, according to the Review-Journal.

Loss in the 2026 primary

Nye County commissioners appointed Fiore to the post in 2022, and she was elected to a two-year term in 2024. She lost her re-election bid after finishing third in the 2026 primary, behind challengers Michael Foley and Scott Oakley. More races are tracked in our Nevada election coverage.

Lombardo's possible testimony

Fiore's attorney, Paola Armeni, signaled Monday that Gov. Joe Lombardo, who donated $5,000 for the Beck memorial, could be called to testify. In an emailed statement, Galang, communications director for Lombardo's office, said the governor "indicated his willingness to participate in the proceedings." Galang added that over the weekend the office was notified his participation was no longer requested.

What to watch next

• The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline hearing is set to resume Tuesday morning.
• The commission has not yet ruled on the three conduct violations it charged against Fiore.
• Nye County says Fiore's pay will continue until the end of her term unless otherwise instructed.