The secretary of state’s office sent Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve’s re-election campaign a letter this morning for receiving more campaign contributions from Eldorado Casinos and Silver Legacy than allowed by law. Schieve, who said she returned the contributions when the violations were discovered, received $1,500 more than the $10,000 limit from both casinos over three years.

According to campaign finance records, Schieve’s campaign received $2,500 from the casinos in 2015, $4,000 in 2016 and $5,000 in 2017. In a statement, Schieve said she was not aware that the 2015 donation from the 2016 election cycle applied to the current cycle.

“I have been made aware that a contribution was accepted by my campaign for the previous election cycle,” she said. “I was not aware that the amount exceeded the requirements for the current election cycle. When brought to my attention, the contribution was immediately returned.”

The secretary of state’s office weighed in on the issue after it dismissed an initial complaint against Schieve in September that alleged her campaign ran afoul of rules by taking more than $25,000 from Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, which all have the same owner.

Wayne Thorley, a deputy at the secretary of state’s office, said he then got a follow-up call from the complainant’s lawyer, Stephanie Rice, who has also represented Schieve’s opponent Eddie Lorton in the past. Thorley said the office, reviewing the three-year history again, realized the complaint had identified a valid violation, which prompted the office to send the letter.

Thorley said if there was proof that the violation was willful, it would constitute a criminal act.

“We’re not there yet, obviously,” he said. “That requires proof of a willful violation.”

The letter to Schieve gave her campaign until Nov. 8 to provide an explanation for the violation.

“We’re just starting our investigation right now,” he said.