NLV water worker who poisoned team’s water supply reassigned - FOX5 Vegas - KVVU

A man who was working at a North Las Vegas water reclamation facility has been reassigned after his admission to poisoning the water supply of a youth football team 15 years ago resurfaced.

Since 1992, Jerome Breland has been employed by the City of North Las Vegas, working in various positions related to the city’s water supply. Eventually, he received a water operator’s certificate from state officials and was promoted to interim utilities operations manager.

Two weeks ago, someone filed a complaint with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection that read, “People convicted of poisoning defenseless children’s water supply should not work for a water department.”

The complaint is making reference to a 2000 case in which Breland was charged with eight counts of willfully poisoning or altering water. He admitted to purchasing ipecac, a drug used to induce vomiting, mixing it with grapefruit juice and putting it into the water supply of his son’s football team during practice. He said it was in retaliation for bullying his son had endured.

Eight children became ill and required treatment at a hospital.

Breland was sentenced to three years of probation and did not lose his job.

On Wednesday, North Las Vegas Assistant City Manager Ryann Juden said Breland has been reassigned to the waste water division while state officials conduct an investigation.

“There’s no harm to the water,” Juden said. “There’s no need to be concerned about anything.”

Juden said state officials will decide whether Breland’s certification should be revoked.

“The city manager’s office will allow due process before making an ultimate decision about Breland’s future with the City of North Las Vegas,” Juden said.

Juden said he has only worked for the city for two years and cannot speak as to why Breland kept his job after admitting the crime.

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