Tim Bedwell, who spent years as a lieutenant with the North Las Vegas Police Department and ran unsuccessfully for Clark County sheriff in 2018, and Michele Bedwell each face one count of comprehensive theft involving $25,000 or more but less than $100,000, a category B felony, according to court records. The indictments were filed Nov. 6.

Prosecutors allege the two fraudulently converted $60,400 belonging to Lutheran Social Services of Nevada for unauthorized personal gain between Jan. 1, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025. Tim Bedwell served as chief executive officer of the nonprofit during that period, according to prior public statements he made about the organization's work.

During grand jury proceedings, a judge ordered indictment warrants for both defendants. Bail was set at $64,000 cash only for Tim Bedwell and $60,400 cash only for Michele Bedwell. The judge also barred both from contacting former board members of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada.

Arraignments will be scheduled once the defendants are taken into custody, court records show. No future court dates had been set as of Friday.

The case carries particular weight in a region where nonprofit service providers are stretched thin. Lutheran Social Services of Nevada has long been a frontline organization helping families with food assistance, housing support and other basic needs, and it has publicly described rising demand during periods of federal disruption. The alleged theft occurred over a full calendar year, a period in which the organization was actively serving the community.

Tim Bedwell's background in law enforcement and his prior run for the county's top sheriff's post make the charges especially notable. He lost the 2018 sheriff's race to Joe Lombardo, who later became governor of Nevada. After leaving the police department, Bedwell moved into nonprofit leadership, becoming the public face of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada during a time when the organization was responding to heightened community need.

The indictments do not detail how the alleged conversion took place, and no additional charges have been announced. Under Nevada law, a category B felony is punishable by one to six years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000, though sentencing is determined by the court.

Attorneys for the Bedwells were not listed in the court records reviewed Friday, and no public statements from the couple or their representatives were available. The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case is being handled in Clark County District Court. Community members and nonprofit supporters are likely to watch closely as the legal process unfolds, given the organization's role in the region's safety net and the senior law enforcement background of one of the accused.