(The Center Square) – Henderson City Councilwoman Carrie Cox pleaded not guilty Tuesday to recording a private conversation of another council member without her knowledge or consent.
The plea came after a grand jury indicted Cox for the recording earlier this month. On Monday, the Henderson City Council in the Las Vegas suburb unanimously voted to censure her.
Cox’s Clark County District court date in Las Vegas came after a 10-month investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department into an alleged January 2025 illegal recording of a fellow council member’s conversation. The investigation preceded a grand jury indictment of Cox on a felony charge that can carry prison time between one and four years. Her next court appearance is scheduled in October 2026.
In Nevada, at least one party participating in a conversation must legally consent to a conversation being recorded. Las Vegas police investigators say Cox made a video recording while hiding behind a curtain at Henderson City Hall.
On Monday in a special Henderson City Council meeting, residents gave a mixed response to Cox’s censure, with most expressing concern over the council’s move to censure. Opponents to the censure called it hasty and outside of the council’s rights, questioning if it was infighting.
“This is not right to do this. Postpone it until we know if she is guilty or not,” said Eddie Hamilton, a Henderson resident who has repeatedly run as an outsider candidate for office, including Henderson City Council in 2023. “Don’t jump the gun. The only impression people think is this is like the old Henderson – when we called it ‘Hendertucky.’”
Many other citizen speakers pressed for Cox’s censure, but often for personal gripes, such as alleged stolen keys or an unlicensed preschool that Las Vegas police investigators said Cox ran.
In its 4-0 vote to censure Cox, the Henderson City Council removed her from representing the city on regional boards. It also cut off her communication with city staff. But Cox remains on the council and can still run for reelection in 2026.
The Henderson City Council cited details from the Las Vegas police investigation as its reason to censure. The investigation came after Cox’s Jan. 9 alleged recording of fellow Councilmember Monica Larson without Larson’s consent or knowledge.
“The information shows a repeated pattern of unethical behavior across wide-ranging topics,” Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero told the council and citizens. “Equally concerning were Ms. Cox’s responses to the accusations when they became public.”
Council members said Cox knew about the investigation and accusation of illegal recording four months before she said learned about them.
The recording allegedly took place in Henderson City Hall, when Larson was speaking to two unrelated people. On camera, investigators said, Cox disappeared behind a nearby curtain, later reemerging to confront Larson.
A Channel 8 investigation said it found Cox recorded a video from behind the curtain.
“She jumped from behind the curtains with her cell phone in the air and started screaming, ‘You’re a liar, you’re a liar,’ ” Larson told the grand jury. Channel 8, which is KLAS-TV, said that’s according to transcripts that the Las Vegas TV station obtained. Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public.
Cox and Larson have previously sparred in public, and some people have categorized the actions against Cox as part of a feud.
Cox was first elected to the five-person Henderson City Council in 2022. She did not respond to a request for comment by The Center Square.
