Authorities: Over 200 Nevada arrests in online predator, sexual abuse cases

The U.S. attorney for Nevada and Clark County officials Thursday announced that more than 200 arrests over six months were part of a push that targeted online predators, sexual abuse and violent attacks.

“Operation Protect the Powerless” ran from June 1 to Dec. 31, U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden said during a press conference. The roundups have resulted in 219 people being arrested, charged or convicted of abusing children physically or sexually.

“If you are committing this crime in Nevada, you will have federal, state and local law enforcement looking out for you,” Bogden said to an audience that included parents of children that had been abused.

Bogden also spoke about William Clyde Thompson, 54, who ran a photo studio and children’s pageant in Las Vegas. He was picked up in California in February after evading authorities on federal and Nevada child pornography charges for more than 17 months.

Though Thompson’s arrest was not a part of “Operation Protect the Powerless,” Bogden referred to it as a recent example of the “disgusting” crimes that police are cracking down on.

Children and teens are increasingly being victimized online and through cell phone apps, said Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who added that the messaging app Kik. With over 200 million users, Lombardo said, it is a growing platform where sexual predators are communicating with teens.

Kik announced this week it will start using Microsoft PhotoDNA Cloud Service to detect pornographic and other exploitative images.

“People used to think of child predators as people in the park handing candy to kids,” Lombardo said. “Predators now count on the Internet to find their victims.”

After the press briefing, a woman who said her son had been sexually exploited detailed her family’s struggle.

The woman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said her son was sexually abused by a man, a family friend, in 2012. The man ran a well-known pageant and photography business, she said, and offered a great “opportunity” for her son. She allowed the man to take photos of her son.

“He looked legit,” the woman said. “And we believed him.”

Everything seemed well until the woman received a phone call saying her son was being harmed by the man. When she requested proof, the “images” were unforgettable.

That night she contacted police, the woman said, and the man was arrested.

Three years later, she’s still trying to help her now teenaged son regain his confidence. She says the family is still in therapy.

“Just trying to put it behind you,” she said. “It’s very hard.”

Bogden encouraged the public to report child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678 and www.missingkids.com.

Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj