Nevada Solicitor general quits post

CARSON CITY - Nevada Solicitor General Mark Ghan, disciplined by a Las Vegas court for delays in releasing documents in a high-profile case, has resigned from the state attorney general's office.

''I hated to leave in the middle of the case, but I could not pass up this opportunity,'' said Ghan, who will be a deputy city attorney in Reno.

Ghan said part of the reason for leaving the $88,000-a-year state job was the time he had to spend in Las Vegas, defending Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa from allegations she approved an illegal investigation into top government officials.

''This one case was taking up more than half of my time,'' he said, adding that it involved a lot of travel to Las Vegas. Ghan has four children and the change in jobs is ''about lifestyle. I will be closer to my family.''

Ghan, 46, worked for the attorney general's office for nearly 11 years and has been solicitor general for nearly three years.

Ghan and Senior Deputy Attorney General Bridget Branigan had to perform 10 hours of public service for delaying the release of parts of a confidential investigation into allegations against top state casino control officials.

The case involves Mike Anzalone, who claims he was fired by Del Papa as an office investigator because he wouldn't take part in an illegal probe of former state Gaming Control Board Chairman Bill Bible and others. Del Papa has denied the allegation.