A former North Las Vegas lawmaker who once made state history for all the wrong reasons has avoided prison time in his latest run-in with the law. On Tuesday, a judge ordered probation for Steven Brooks, the former assemblyman who pleaded guilty in a case tied to a police chase last summer. The sentence includes a suspended 24-to-60-month prison term, restitution, and a court-ordered mental-health evaluation, keeping Brooks out of immediate custody as long as he follows the rules. It is the newest chapter in what has been a years-long series of encounters with law enforcement for Brooks.
Judge Accepts Plea, Sets Probation Conditions
District Judge Eric Johnson signed off on a plea agreement and ordered that Brooks serve up to two years of probation while a 24-to-60-month prison term hangs over his head, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Prosecutors agreed not to fight probation if Brooks completes a mental-health evaluation and any follow-up treatment that professionals recommend, the outlet reported.
Sentence Terms and Prosecutor Comment
Mary Ann Price, a spokesperson for the court, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Brooks’ probation will include restitution payments along with the ordered mental-health evaluation as conditions of his supervision. Deputy District Attorney Phillip Froehlich said Brooks’ conduct, while serious, did not result in death or major injury, explaining that “Brooks did not kill or substantially injure anyone,” a point prosecutors cited in supporting probation instead of an immediate prison commitment.
Police Chase and Arrest
Brooks’ latest case began in June 2024 after officers said they spotted his vehicle partially parked on a center median, triggering a pursuit that wound through downtown streets, according to FOX5. The chase ended near Las Vegas Boulevard and Bonanza Road, where officers used a low-lethal shotgun and a K-9 to take him into custody. At the time, police said he was facing multiple counts that included resisting with a weapon, evading, and assault-related offenses.
Troubled Tenure and Earlier Cases
Brooks’ legal troubles stretch back more than a decade. In 2013, lawmakers expelled him from the Nevada Legislature after citing threats against Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, making him the first lawmaker in state history to be removed from office, as reported by CBS Los Angeles. Not long after, he pleaded no contest in California to charges tied to a 2013 freeway chase and spent time in San Bernardino County custody. In 2015, he was sentenced to probation on domestic-battery-related charges, according to local reporting by KSL.
What the Sentence Could Mean
Because the judge paired probation with a suspended prison term, Nevada law allows the court to revoke that probation and “cause the sentence imposed to be executed” if Brooks violates his conditions, and the statutes also permit graduated sanctions for technical violations, according to the Nevada Revised Statutes. In practical terms, the 24-to-60-month prison sentence remains in the background and could be enforced if he fails to comply, although judges often weigh treatment progress and other factors when deciding whether to activate a suspended term.
For now, Brooks will remain under supervision while he completes the evaluation process and any other requirements the court has ordered.
