Vegas police refuse to release violent criminal despite judge’s order: reports

nypost.com ^ | March 15, 2026 | Jorge Fitz-Gibbon

[lowbridge]

A Las Vegas judge is threatening to hold cops in contempt for refusing to release a violent career criminal with 35 busts on his rap sheet — a legal scrap testing the power of the bench over the badge.

Las Vega Metro police are challenging the authority of Justice Eric Goodman over the fate of Joshua Sanchez-Lopez, a 36-year-old repeat felon whose priors include involuntary manslaughter, drugs and car theft, according to a report by KLAS-TV News.

Goodman wants the goon released with an ankle monitor — but cops said he’s too dangerous to cut loose.

“We have to take a look at that and say, ‘Is this somebody who our electronic supervision program can monitor safely in the community?” Mike Dickerson, assistant general counsel for Metro police, told the outlet.

-snip

Sanchez-Lopez was picked up by Metro police in January on a warrant for grand larceny of a motor vehicle — the latest in a string of arrests that included stints in prison for drugs and manslaughter.

In court, Goodman set bail at $25,000 and ordered that the suspect must wear a monitoring ankle bracelet which equated to house arrest if he does make bail.

On Jan. 29, the police department, which also runs the jail system in the city, told Goodman that they would not release Sanchez-Lopez due to his history of blowing off court appearances and skipping court-ordered rehabilitation programs.

Cops cited a 2020 case when the felon ran from cops lugging a gun, and later took to Snapchat to joke about the ankle monitor he was wearing, adding, “got chased again.”

Goodman didn’t take the snub lightly, and on Feb. 5 warned that the department and Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, who heads Metro police, could be cited for contempt of court for defying his order.

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: lasvegas; vegas

[coloradan]

The cops could offer to release him if the judge agrees to face equal criminal charges if the man offends again.

[quantim]

This is how you get vigilante justice. It may not be right/legal but these animals might pick the wrong victim next time.

[Celtic Conservative]

Release him into the judge’s recognizance, but only if the judge agrees to put him up in his own house.

Seriously though, his failure to take the court’s orders seriously is sufficient cause to revoke bond. Unless the judge is brain dead, which this one seems to be.

CC

[MayflowerMadam]

I’m in favor of vigilante justice when the system blatantly fails the citizenry and knowingly puts innocent lives in danger.

Just do it quietly, i.e., “the 3-s treatment”.

[yldstrk]

Good for the cops.

[A strike]

‘bout time someone gave these black robed tyrants the finger.

Should be done at the federal level as well.
John Roberts foul legacy..

[dennisw]

Yes. Eric Goodman is related to the Las Vegas mayor Goodman family.

He is the son of former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman.

He is also the son of Carolyn Goodman, who succeeded her husband as mayor in 2011.

Family background

The Goodmans adopted and raised four children: Eric, Ross, Cara, and Oscar Jr.

Eric became a lawyer and later a Justice of the Peace (judge) in Las Vegas Justice Court, first elected in 2008.

✅ Simple answer:

Eric Goodman = son of the Las Vegas mayor family (Oscar & Carolyn Goodman).

[no-to-illegals]

Good for the cops.

Ditto !!!!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Figure out where the judges kids or grandchildren go to school and release him there.

[Freedom4US]

Yeah, there has to be a mechanism or positive feedback somehow. This “sovereign immunity” or whatever is totally out of control.

Dram shop laws make bars and restaurants liable for drunk drivers on the road, but these clowns get away with murder? Idiots wearing nightgowns are a menace to everyone. Judges should have some discretion, but at the end of the day the t should be their ass on the line if they err.

[Palio di Siena]

A hospital where I worked years ago released a psych patient who went out
and killed himself.
The hospital went through a year of Medicare examinations, lawsuits from
the family, and other bureaucratic bs.
If judges had to face any kind of consequences at all for their actions, it
would be a different story.

[SisterK]

good for the police

[Bosco127]

When does a judge like this get charged with contempt of society?

[telescope115]

Here’s another way of looking at it- perhaps the judge, knowing the perps’ criminal history, is trying to give the vigilantes a chance…..

I know, I’m dreaming…..

[bert]

Conclusion:

Sanchez-Lopez is part of the criminal conspiracy of which the Goodman patriarch is beholden to.

QED

[Uncle Miltie]

I often have contempt for courts.

[Brian Griffin]

Fairly recent federal elected Democrats in DC told military folks that they did not have to obey illegal orders.