Scandal has struck the Washoe County District Attorney's Office as one of their own, Deputy District Attorney Kenneth Ching, was arrested by the Reno Police Department on a charge of open and gross lewdness on August 30. The details surrounding the incident remain under wraps, but the ripple effect of such an arrest within the halls of justice cannot be understated, given that Ching is one of approximately 70 deputy district attorneys serving in the county, as reported by News 3 LV.
While information on the case is limited, what is known is that Ching has been released on his own recognizance pending his arraignment hearing scheduled for next Tuesday, as per KOLO TV. The case has been handed over to the Carson City District Attorney to avoid a conflict of interest, a situation that often occurs when an official within a legal jurisdiction faces charges and the office they serve is deeply involved in the adjudication process and cannot be seen as dispensing justice without favor or bias, echoing the complexities of a system grappling with impartiality under internal scrutiny.
The ostensible gravity of the situation has been acknowledged by the Washoe County DA's Office in a statement that reads, "We are aware of the matter and take it very seriously. Mr. Ching has been placed on administrative leave, and the criminal case has been referred to the Carson City District Attorney’s Office for all prosecution purposes. Out of respect for the process, we have no further comment at this time," a statement obtained by News 3 LV.
