$1.25 million bail set for Boulder City teacher

A teacher arrested on child pornography charges gained access to young boys by hosting sleepovers, during which the preteen victims were "drunk or drugged," Boulder City Police Chief Thomas Finn said Tuesday.

Chief Deputy District Attorney James Sweetin said videos taken from the computers of Charles Richard "Rick" Rogers showed the once-trusted soccer coach and teacher performing sexual acts on children who appear to be asleep or unconscious.

Sweetin provided Boulder City Justice of the Peace Victor Miller new details about Rogers' encounters with boys, from 6 to 12 years old, in a successful effort to raise his bail. Saying that Rogers faces multiple life sentences and is a flight risk, Miller set bail at $1.25 million.

Rogers, 46, faces dozens of charges including possession of child pornography, sexual assault of a minor under 14 years old, lewdness with a child under 14 and use of a minor in producing pornography. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

So many images were taken from Rogers' computers that Boulder City had to borrow four detectives from Henderson to go through all of the information, Finn said.

Rogers' attorney, Bill Terry, accused the state of piling on charges in such a way that his client cannot post bail. He questioned why additional charges keep surfacing.

"It's time to put up or shut up," he said.

But investigators are uncertain how many victims are involved. After Rogers' arrest, police urged parents to come forward if their children had any contact with the man. In addition to being a soccer coach, a middle-school science teacher and a foster parent, he also is a former reserve police officer.

The police department has received calls from more than 20 families.

Rogers' arrest has sent shock waves not only through the community, but also through the Boulder City Police Department, where he was a reserve officer in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Exact dates are unavailable, Finn said, because the city did not keep personnel records.

"This is not something we're proud of," Finn said.

As an unpaid, part-time officer, Rogers carried a weapon and rode along with a full-time officer. He was well-liked by his colleagues. Finn, who has been with the department three years, watched as Rogers stood expressionless while attorneys battled over his bail amount.

"Not enough; I wanted no bail," Finn said after the brief hearing. "This is a tight-knit community. To know he infiltrated families and got to their most cherished, prized possessions has rattled everyone."

Few residents attended Tuesday's proceedings, but the courtroom is expected to be packed during an April 21 preliminary hearing, where evidence will be presented and at least three witnesses will take the stand.

Residents at first doubted the charges, even suggesting that police had framed the well-liked Rogers, said Finn, who has spent the past week assuring community members they have the right man.

"Believe me, it's possible, it happened, it's him," Finn said. "I've watched it. I can't watch it anymore."

Authorities said Rogers is seen on videotapes and DVDs performing fellatio on boys 6 and 8 years old. On one video, three boys ranging in age from 6 to 12 are in "various stages of dress performing sexual acts," Sweetin said.

"This is a case I don't recall ever seeing here in Clark County," Sweetin said. "The fact the defendant admits his attraction to young boys is very substantial. He puts himself in positions in which he has access to young children."

The Boulder City police investigation involving Rogers began March 25 after Henderson police received an anonymous envelope with three electronic storage devices that contained child pornography and the teacher's lesson plans. A note with the items said they came from Rogers' house, according to the arrest report.

Police searched Rogers' house and found a photo album with more than 50 images of child pornography in a drawer under his bed, the report said. Rogers admitted to having the photos at his house, the report said.

"This is by far the most disturbing case of child abuse I've seen as a cop," said Finn, who added that some boys are seen engaging in acts "they shouldn't even know about."

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.