Assault-video finder wants new judge

A Pahrump man who gave authorities a videotape showing the sexual assault of a 3-year-old girl has requested a new judge to preside over his trial for possession of child pornography.

Darrin Tuck wants Nye County District Judge Robert Lane removed from the trial because Lane also presides over a court-run drug treatment program in which Tuck was enrolled at the time of his arrest.

Tuck's attorney, Chris Rasmussen, said he planned to call Lane as a witness during the trial, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 19.

Lane has not yet ruled on Tuck's request for a new judge.

Tuck pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Monday.

He remains in custody on an unrelated probation violation.

Tuck said he found the videotape of the girl in the desert while he was riding his dirt bike in Pahrump.

He turned it over to the Nye County sheriff's office on Sept. 8, triggering a nationwide manhunt that ended in the Oct. 15 arrest of Chester Arthur Stiles, 37, by Henderson police. Authorities said Stiles is the man seen abusing the girl in the video.

The girl, now 7, was found safe Sept. 28 in Las Vegas. An attorney for the girl's mother has said the girl is healthy and has no memory of the attack, which occurred when she was about 3 years old.

Rasmussen said at least a portion of the videotape probably will have to be shown during the trial to establish that it is child pornography.