Authorities release photos of second girl on video

Nye County authorities turned to the media again on Wednesday seeking help in identifying a girl being sexually assaulted by an older man on a video handed over to police earlier this month.

Sheriff Tony DeMeo thinks that through the media, the public will bring the girl, estimated to be 4 or 5 years old, to safety.

"The media is going to be the conduit where information comes to us so we can I.D. her," he said. "People all over the world are interested. Even if the tip we need comes internationally, it will come to us."

Also on Wednesday, authorities released photos of a girl, estimated to be 10 to 12 years old, who also was seen on the tape. The girl isn't sexually assaulted on the video, but police said she is a victim of voyeurism.

"Whoever was taping the girl was just watching her," said Detective David Boruchowitz of the Nye County sheriff's office.

Police had not wanted to release images of the second girl, but with no other substantial leads, they said they had no choice.

"We don't want to chance it and waste any time," Boruchowitz said.

Since first releasing images to the media on Monday, Nye County officials have received at least 1,500 tips, some of which have provided investigators with new leads, DeMeo said.

A woman from North Carolina identified the manufacturer of the animal-print dress the younger girl is wearing on the tape. The leopard-rose print, spaghetti-strapped jumper is part of the Laura Dare collection, DeMeo said.

The former seamstress for the high-end child fashion company told authorities in an e-mail that the clothing line could be bought at Dillard's, Nordstrom and other businesses of that caliber, DeMeo said.

The jumper is from the designer's spring 2003 collection, adding to authorities' suspicions that the tape was made a few years ago.

Inside the room where the sexual assault occurs, a 2003-model television and a 2004-model DVD player are visible, DeMeo said. Police said they have no idea where the tape was made.

The Nye County sheriff's office isn't disclosing all it knows about the case. The first name of one of the girls can be heard on the tape, but police are not revealing it.

A 26-year-old Pahrump man, Darren Tuck, turned over the tape to Nye County investigators on Sept. 8 after another man reported seeing it, Boruchowitz said.

Tuck told detectives he found the videotape in the desert outside Pahrump more than five months ago. But Boruchowitz said the tape did not appear to have been exposed to the elements.

"We don't buy his story, point blank," Boruchowitz said. "We don't believe it, nor do we think any reasonable person should."

DeMeo said the actions caught on the tape are so grotesque that he could not watch it all. What images he did see haunt him, he said.

The FBI has put a federal John Doe warrant out for the arrest of the man on the tape. If he is identified but outside of Nye County jurisdiction, he still can be arrested, Boruchowitz said.

Tuck was arrested and booked on charges of possessing and promoting child pornography, both felonies.

Authorities do not think Tuck was involved in the tape's production.

Tuck was released without bail, pending arraignment Nov. 26 in Pahrump Justice Court.

If convicted for possessing child pornography, Tuck could face up to six years in prison, Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett said. If convicted for promoting child pornography, Tuck could face life in prison, he said.

Beckett met with Tuck and his attorney for more than an hour Wednesday.

Police have said Tuck has lied to them and not been cooperative. But Beckett said Tuck was cooperative during the meeting Wednesday.

After the meeting, police still had no new leads in the case, Boruchowitz said.

Tuck's lawyer, Tom Gibson, said he does not think his client should be charged with any crime. Gibson said Tuck has a "logical explanation" for waiting to show the tape to authorities.

While he would not elaborate on Tuck's reasoning, Gibson said "it made a whole lot sense" to investigators during the meeting with the district attorney.

"We've agreed to cooperate and trust the D.A. will do the right thing," Gibson said. "It was a very positive meeting."

Beckett said he is not ruling out negotiating a plea deal.

"(Negotiation) could happen if it's consistent with our priority to I.D. this little girl and bring her to safety," Beckett said.

Tips can be e-mailed to Nye County authorities at findchild@nyesheriff.net.