Political Activist Admits to Hiring Investigator in Reno Mayor Surveillance Case
A politically influential figure in Northern Nevada, GOP activist and donor Robert Beadles, has acknowledged his role in a controversial surveillance case involving Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. Beadles admitted to hiring a private investigator, which has brought an end to a protracted legal effort to uncover the identity of the anonymous client behind the monitoring.
The issue began when Schieve and former Washoe County Commissioner Vaughn Hartung filed a lawsuit, claiming that GPS devices placed on their vehicles constituted a privacy invasion. Beadles, in a statement to The Nevada Independent and other media outlets, insisted that his request to investigator David McNeely was to substantiate allegations rather than follow individuals.
Beadles stated, “I didn’t direct the investigator’s methods, and no laws were broken by me or the investigator. I’m being painted as the villain for believing public officials should be accountable to the people they serve. I stand by that principle, and I won’t apologize for seeking the truth.”
Known for promoting election fraud theories, Beadles has leveraged his financial resources to cast doubt on Nevada’s election system, particularly in pivotal counties, and has supported initiatives to replace officials opposing his views with those who challenge the 2020 election results.
The revelation follows the denial by the U.S. Supreme Court to consider appeals against decisions by Washoe County District Court and Nevada Supreme Court, which mandated the disclosure of the “John Doe” responsible for the GPS tracking of Schieve and other officials.
After discovering a GPS device on her vehicle in 2022, Schieve initiated legal action. Hartung joined the lawsuit, seeking a judicial order for the investigator to reveal his client. A collaborative investigation by The Nevada Independent, KUNR, and APM Reports identified that Schieve, Hartung, and Washoe County Commissioner Mariluz Garcia were under scrutiny by private investigators in 2022.
At the time of the surveillance, Nevada law did not expressly prohibit GPS tracking, but legislative changes have since classified the unauthorized placement of tracking devices on vehicles as a misdemeanor. The change in law, passed unanimously in the 2023 session, was prompted by Schieve’s experience, according to bill sponsor Assm. Jill Dickman (R-Sparks). “Everyone I talked to was shocked that it wasn’t already illegal,” Dickman remarked.
No immediate responses were received from McNeely, Hartung, or Schieve regarding requests for comments by The Nevada Independent.
This article was updated on 11/4/2025 at 8:37 a.m. to clarify wording about the hiring arrangement.
