City Pays $20,000 After Jail Officer Delivers Sermon
The settlement follows an incident where a corrections officer preached to detainees after a 2025 protest.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Latter-Day Saints
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The City of Las Vegas has paid a $20,000 settlement to a detainee who was subjected to a religious sermon while held at the Las Vegas City Jail. The incident occurred following an ICE protest in June 2025 where approximately 100 people were detained.
Why it matters
The settlement highlights the lack of city policy regarding religious activities led by staff in detention settings. It raises ongoing questions about the boundaries of institutional authority when officers use their position to address detainees.
The city settled the claim for $20,000 following a six-minute sermon delivered to detainees held for roughly 24 hours. The incident occurred after a protest where about 100 people were placed in city jail holding cells.
The players
Bernabe Ibarra
A City of Las Vegas corrections officer who delivered the sermon to detainees.
City of Las Vegas
The local government entity that paid the settlement and oversees the city jail.
The details
Corrections Officer Bernabe Ibarra, who remains employed by the city, delivered the sermon alongside a jail chaplain and two church volunteers. The legal claim stemmed from conditions during the detention of protesters, during which the plaintiff also reported being struck by 48 pepper balls. The city resolved this portion of the federal lawsuit on October 7, 2026.
Timeline
June 2025: Protesters were held in the Las Vegas City Jail.
October 7, 2026: The federal lawsuit portion was settled.
Beyond the Strip
This settlement marks the latest legal consequence arising from the police response to the 2025 downtown Las Vegas ICE protest. It follows a pattern of litigation regarding the city's handling of the roughly 100 individuals held in jail during that event.
The city's payment closes this specific legal chapter for the plaintiff involved in the 2025 protest. Residents should monitor whether the City Council moves to implement new training or policies for corrections staff regarding religious expression in jail.
The takeaway
The city has signaled a resolution to this claim without establishing clear rules for staff-led sermons in custody. Watch for future City Council meeting agendas to see if officials adopt formal guidelines governing correctional officer conduct regarding religious outreach.
Further reading
For broader context on local religious engagement and policies, visit the Latter-Day Saints section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTNV.
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