Las Vegas Court Officials Accused Of Covering Up Sex Assault [VIDEO]

Solidarity among co-workers is usually a good thing. But when loyalty crosses a line into a cover-up, it can get everyone in a heap of trouble. Case in point: Employees at the Clark County family court in Las Vegas -- from the judge to court security officers -- are accused of looking the other way when security guard Ron Fox allegedly sexually assaulted a young, female defendant -- which eventually resulted in ruined reputations and careers.

It all began two years ago, when Monica Contreras (pictured above, on the right), then 26, claimed that Fox (pictured at front left) "touched her buttocks, breast and ordered her to lift up her shirt," according to Las Vegas station KLAS-TV. Then Fox allegedly retaliated by arresting her on a bogus charge -- making false allegations against a police officer -- news accounts say. Fox reportedly was fired as a result.

Contreras initially had been called into the family court in August 2011 after her estranged husband filed for a temporary restraining order against her during their divorce. But just a few minutes into her hearing, Contreras was asked to take a drug test in a waiting room without being given an explanation, said KLAS-TV. (The station recently uncovered the security video of her appearance.) And it was while Contreras was in the waiting room that, she says, Fox assaulted her -- as described by her to court magistrate Patricia Doninger in a squirm-inducing breakdown. Gossip website Gawker has said the footage will give you "nightmares."