By: Las Vegas Now Staff
A state assemblywoman has been arrested for stabbing her husband with a steak knife. Police say Nevada lawmaker Francis Allen faces felony charges of battery with a deadly weapon. Allen, who is up for re-election, is denying the charges.
Allen's face is posted all over District 4 in Summerlin as she tries to win her re-election bid. Her campaign sign says “Integrity and Trust.” But after hearing about the disturbing allegation, voters are wondering how sincere that message really is.
Read the Francis Allen arrest report
“So she was arrested for stabbing her newlywed husband. Okay, well that's pretty out there,” said one voter.
The police report says Allen's newlywed husband, Paul Maineri, checked himself into Summerlin Hospital early Saturday morning with a stab wound to his arm. He told detectives they had a party last Friday and afterwards Allen accused him of embarrassing her in front of friends. Things got heated and Maineri says she stabbed him in the arm.
Allen told police her husband stabbed himself. When voters heard the news they were shocked, but willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“I think you have to have all of your facts before you make a decision. It depends on the circumstances,” said one voter.
No matter what the circumstances, some say a politician breaking the law is something they can't stand for, “Elected officials have a greater duty to the people to follow the laws they are sworn to uphold.”
Allen has refused comment and Eyewitness News' cameras weren't allowed near her home. Her lawyer, Richard Wright, released this statement, “Francis Allen denies the allegations set forth in the criminal complaint filed today. At the appropriate time, the true facts will become known and she will be exonerated.”
Now Allen is vying for votes to win a third term. Allegations that she lost her cool could affect her campaign, “I don't think most people would say I want someone in the office who's going to not be able to control her emotions.”
After getting three stitches, Maineri was released from the hospital. After finding out his wife of just seven weeks could be going to jail, he recanted his statement, saying he stabbed himself.
Email your comments to Reporter Travell Eiland
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