South Lake Tahoe mayor pro tem arrested after Stateline bar altercation; arraignment set for Dec. 22

Misdemeanor assault, trespass and harassment charges follow surveillance review — incident comes amid wider city leadership turmoil.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Mayor Pro Tem Cody Bass was arrested in the early morning hours of Sept. 26 after an altercation at AleWorx in Stateline, Nev., and was later booked on misdemeanor charges of assault, trespassing and threats/harassment, authorities said.

According to a joint statement from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, Bass was arrested at about 1 a.m. and charged after deputies responded to the brewpub and reviewed footage from the scene. The DA later filed a criminal complaint in Tahoe Justice Court formalizing trespass and harassment charges.

Court documents and news reports say surveillance footage and witness accounts show Bass approaching an employee, leaving, returning about 20 minutes later and then “cocking” his arm as if to strike — prompting the employee to kick the councilman in self-defense. Deputies who reviewed the footage concluded Bass was the aggressor.

Bass issued a brief emailed statement to local media denying wrongdoing and invoking his right to a trial. “I can guarantee my community I did nothing wrong, I believe in due process, bring on the trial,” he wrote.

City officials have acknowledged the arrest but declined to remove Bass from office. A city spokesperson told reporters the matter is being handled by Nevada authorities and noted that, under state law, a city council seat becomes vacant only after a felony conviction or guilty plea. Bass is scheduled to appear at Tahoe Justice Court on Dec. 22 for arraignment.

The arrest intensifies scrutiny of municipal leadership already frayed by separate allegations involving Mayor Tamara Wallace, who this week publicly admitted to embezzling funds from a local church and disclosed a recent suicide attempt. Local reporters and residents said the near-simultaneous controversies have left some community members shaken and asking hard questions about governance and trust.

Bass has faced legal troubles in the past: in 2021, California Highway Patrol troopers arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence after stopping a vehicle south of Lake Tahoe; that case drew significant local coverage.

Douglas County authorities said they would make no further public comment while the complaint is pending. Local leaders and residents said they expect due process but also emphasized the need for transparency as the city navigates two high-profile legal matters involving its top elected officials.

Background

Key facts & timeline (brief)

• Sept. 26, 2025 (approx. 1 a.m.): Bass arrested at AleWorx in Stateline, Nev.; booked on misdemeanor assault, trespass and threats/harassment.

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• Oct. 2, 2025: Douglas County DA files criminal complaint in Tahoe Justice Court, formally charging Bass with trespass and harassment.

• Dec. 22, 2025: Arraignment scheduled at Tahoe Justice Court.

Prior Legal / Controversial Issues

Several incidents and legal matters have involved him; here are some of the major ones:

1. Tax / Income Return Issues

   • Around 2015, there were felony counts (and one misdemeanor) filed against him: alleged false tax returns for 2012 & 2013, failure to file returns for 2014, and failing to pay tax in 2011.

   • The dispute included raids on his dispensary (“Tahoe Wellness Cooperative”) and his home.

   • He has claimed that federal audits found no criminal findings for the same years.

   • The case ended in a plea deal in 2021: he pleaded no contest to a violation of California’s tax code (Tax Code 19706) after years of legal proceedings. He was placed on probation, paid fines, and paid his taxes.

2. DUI / Drug Possession Arrest (September 25, 2021)

   • On that date, he was arrested by the California Highway Patrol around 2:30 a.m. near US Highway 50 (south of Lake Tahoe, near Twin Bridges) on suspicion of driving under the influence.

   • Law enforcement reported finding substances resembling cocaine and methamphetamine in his vehicle.

   • However, lab results showed the substances were MDMA (“Molly” / ecstasy) and Ketamine, both considered misdemeanors in this case.

   • He entered a “not guilty” plea to many of the charges, including the DUI, open cannabis container, etc. The case became public.

3. Recent Arrest / Incident (September 25, 2025)

   • He was arrested at Lake Tahoe AleWorx in Stateline, Nevada, on misdemeanor charges of assault, trespassing, and harassment.

   • According to the reports, he approached an employee outside, where he was previously banned (“trespassed”) from the establishment, began yelling, threatened the employee (allegedly saying “he was going to have people kill him”), left then came back ~20 minutes later, allegedly cocked his arm as if to hit the employee.

   • He was booked, posted bail, and a court date was set for December 22, 2025.

   • The city has stated that the misdemeanor charges do not automatically make his seat on council vacant, per state law (only felony convictions or pleas would do that).

Other Key Points

• He has expanded his cannabis dispensary business: Tahoe Wellness Center has undergone expansions including moving into a new space (old bank lobby) and adding display cases, changing layout, etc.

• He has said that some of the treatments (drugs like MDMA / Ketamine) he had were for therapeutic use.

• He had been recused from certain City Council decisions when there are conflicts of interest with his business (for example, because of political regulations/formal advice regarding his business interests)