NARRATOR: Next were in family court in Las Vegas, Nevada.
26-year-old Monica Contreras is here
to vacate a temporary restraining
order filed against her by her estranged husband.
The routine hearing lasts just a few minutes
and Contreras' two-year-old daughter
joins her just off camera.
So I'm just going to close the case
out and dissolve the order.
All right, thank you.
NARRATOR: But before Contreras is able to leave,
courtroom Marshal Ron Fox takes her to another room
to perform a drug search while her daughter
plays with hearing master Patricia Doneger on the bench.
Moments later Contreras is back in the courtroom
but there's a problem.
She begins telling the other courtroom Marshal
that she wasn't comfortable with how
the drug search was performed.
MARSHAL: What are you allegating that my officer did?
He said, can I just have you pull up your shirt
and show me that there's no guns in there?
I said, yeah, really don't trust--
I don't think that's a good idea.
I think I'd rather have a female in here.
I'm just offended that he asked me to do that.
NARRATOR: Still searching Contreras' purse,
Marshall Fox doesn't like what he's hearing.
RON FOX: OK, so story stands, handcuff her,
we'll bring here in.
MARSHAL: Turn around.
MONICA CONTRERAS: Why would I be arrested?
MARSHAL: Turn around.
RON FOX: Hold on.
MONICA CONTRERAS: For what, sir?
Why would I be arrested?
Can you please tell me?
MARSHAL: Turn around, put your hands behind your back.
MONICA CONTRERAS: Can you please tell me?
MARSHAL: Turn around put your hands--
RON FOX: Because of false allegations
made against a police officer.
What?
NARRATOR: Making a false allegation
against a police officer?
In this context, that wouldn't even
be a crime in Clark County.
MONICA CONTRERAS: For what?
RON FOX: Turn around.
NARRATOR: Hearing master Patricia Doneger turns
her back on the situation.
MONICA CONTRERAS: Please tell me.
MARSHAL: Turn around, put your hands behind your back.
MONICA CONTRERAS: Please tell me.
NARRATOR: Then without getting any further explanation
of the charges, she asked to have Contreras' daughter
removed from the courtroom.
Can we do something with the little girl?
If you could call up Child Haven for me.
NARRATOR: Child Haven is the county's child
protective services facility.
In just a matter of minutes Contreras
went from appearing at a routine court
hearing to getting arrested and now having her daughter taken
away from her.
RON FOX: You're saying it.
MARSHAL: If you do not turn around,
I will also add obstruction.
OK, stop.
What did I do to anyone?
[interposing voices]
RON FOX: Tell the truth, tell the truth.
MONICA CONTRERAS: I don't want to press charges,
I don't want to sue anyone.
I just want it to end.
RON FOX: Jimmy, I got court, I still
have to do this, so arrest her.
I take the kid, we're done.
[interposing voices]
Because you're making false allegations.
MONICA CONTRERAS: I'm not making false allegations, officer!
Why would you put me in this position?
I'm a good person.
No.
I don't want to deal with this, please.
I just want to end it.
OK, it was all lies, it was all lies, it was all lies.
Let me go, please.
RON FOX: So on record, on tape, in the courtroom.
MONICA CONTRERAS: I just want to go home, please.
RON FOX: Miss, step to the table.
NARRATOR: Sounds like Contreras is going
to recant her statement about the Marshal's
inappropriate handling of the drug search.
Or maybe not.
That's what happened.
RON FOX: Right into the microphone.
You told me, you put me in the room
and you asked me to lift up my shirt without a witness.
You asked me to lift, you asked me to lift
up my shirt without a witness.
NARRATOR: As she's handcuffed in front of her young daughter,
Contreras singles out hearing master Doneger for seemingly
ignoring her pleas for help.
How could you do this to me?
How could you watch?
You asked me to pull up my shirt, leave me alone!
I don't wanna go to jail!
I'm just trying to defend myself!
He said, can you please pull up your shirt without a witness!
CHILD: Sir, don't take momma!
You've already lied, it's on record.
MONICA CONTRERAS: I didn't lie!
I didn't lie!
NARRATOR: Contreras is taken to jail, formally charged
with providing false information to a police officer,
and disturbing the peace.
Her daughter's turned over to special services
until the girl's father picked her up later that day.
Two months after the incident, Contreras filed a complaint
against Marshal Fox claiming that in addition
to improper protocol, the officer also
groped her breast and buttocks during the drug search.
An investigation by Clark County internal affairs
would validate her claims.
She was later awarded $200,000 in a court settlement.
As for those responsible for the courtroom
injustice, the perpetrator Marshall Ron Fox
was fired immediately following the investigation,
Marshall James Kenyon was later relieved of his duties,
and hearing master Patricia Doneger was out two years
later after the video went public.