A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police lieutenant is set to stand trial on Jan. 5, with a high-stakes fight over home surveillance recordings threatening to overshadow the rest of the case. At issue is Nest camera footage from the officer’s house that prosecutors say they only just learned exists and defense attorneys insist they will not use and do not have to share. Lawyers and the judge traded shots over discovery at a hearing last week as pretrial deadlines closed in.
Prosecutors Say Defense Sat on Nest Footage
Deputy District Attorney James Puccinelli told the court that prosecutors first learned about the Boxler family’s Nest camera recordings on Dec. 14, when an associate for the defense emailed over a brief clip, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal. The excerpt runs 3 minutes and 47 seconds and appears to show the home’s front exterior and the alleged victim, Stephanie Boxler, getting into a vehicle and driving away.
Puccinelli asked the court to ensure the full set of recordings is preserved. Defense attorney Dominic Gentile countered that the state has no right to demand material the defense does not intend to introduce at trial, arguing prosecutors are free to try to obtain the videos themselves if they think they are important.
How the Case Began
The criminal case traces back to an Oct. 12, 2024 incident in Summerlin. Police say officers responding to a disturbance found red marks on Stephanie Boxler’s neck after an argument about laundry and arrested Lt. Brian Boxler on a charge of domestic battery by strangulation. The initial arrest and Boxler’s administrative suspension were first reported in coverage of his arrest and suspension.
Court records cited by that earlier reporting state that the alleged victim told detectives she could not breathe at one point. She later told investigators she could not remember everything she said that night.
Judge Allows Limited Expert Testimony
District Judge Maria Gall has ruled that prosecutors may use prior testimony from a nurse who conducted strangulation exams in the case, but she limited the replacement expert, Dr. Rachell Ekroos, to testifying only about her own findings, Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Defense attorneys had asked the court to block the deceased nurse’s prior testimony altogether.
The ruling narrows how medical evidence can be presented to jurors if the case proceeds on schedule. At the same hearing, Puccinelli requested at least a 30-day continuance, while Gentile said he was prepared to move forward on Jan. 5 without relying on the Nest footage in order to keep the trial date intact.
Legal Stakes and What to Watch
Boxler faces a charge of battery constituting domestic violence by strangulation, an offense that can be prosecuted as a felony under Nevada law and carries potential prison time and fines. Under the Nevada Revised Statutes, strangulation in a domestic battery case may be classified as a felony, with penalties that can include imprisonment and fines. A domestic violence conviction can also trigger firearms prohibitions and other collateral consequences.
A senior judge has said another judge will handle outstanding motions before trial, which means decisions about the full Nest recordings and the scope of expert medical testimony could come right up against the start of jury selection.
For now, with pretrial motions still hanging and evidence fights very much alive, jurors are still expected to be seated in early January unless a judge grants a last-minute continuance. Both sides are spending the final stretch battling over what recordings and which medical opinions the jury will actually get to hear.
