Girl OK; suspect sought

PAHRUMP -- A young girl who was seen being sexually assaulted in a homemade videotape was found safe in Las Vegas with her mother Friday, and a fugitive who knew the child's family was named a suspect in the case, authorities said.

Investigators learned of the girl's identity from a tipster who called the Nye County sheriff's office on Friday, said Nye County Detective David Boruchowitz at a news conference in Pahrump.

The tipster recognized the child after authorities released her first name, heard on the video, to the media.

Earlier in the week, Nye County officials had released to the media images of the girl and her adult male assailant taken from the videotape of the sexual assault.

Authorities now say that assault occurred in Las Vegas, where the girl lives with her mother. "She is a very happy 7-year-old girl," Boruchowitz said of the child who was 3 at the time the video was taken.

Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo added, "She is safe, she is OK. The mother is cooperating with us."

The girl stayed at home with her mother, authorities said.

Because the assault is alleged to have occurred in Las Vegas, the Metropolitan Police Department will take over the investigation.

Authorities named Chester "Chet" Arthur Stiles, 34, as a suspect in the case. They said investigators believe Stiles is the man seen molesting the child on the video.

The girl's mother identified Stiles as a family friend, Boruchowitz said.

Stiles has lived in Pahrump, but his most recent address was in Las Vegas and he was last seen in Las Vegas two weeks ago, Boruchowitz said.

Stiles is a former animal trainer for illusionists Siegfried & Roy, Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett said.

He also is wanted by Las Vegas police and the FBI on an outstanding warrant for lewdness with a child.

The FBI and Nye County authorities had concluded on Thursday that Stiles was the man on the video, officials said.

DeMeo urged Stiles to turn himself in.

"Police have a long arm and a long memory," DeMeo said, adding Stiles "will not be forgotten."

A Las Vegas attorney contacted Nye officials after a client told the attorney he was "110 percent positive Stiles was the man on the videotape," Beckett said. The attorney said his client described Stiles as an outlaw who vowed that "police would never get him alive" and an adventurist capable of living anywhere, Beckett said.

Stiles could be charged with sexual assault of a minor, lewd behavior with a minor and possibly kidnapping, DeMeo said.

On April 26, 2004, a 6-year-old girl told Las Vegas police that Stiles had touched her on several occasions. Police were unable to locate Stiles at the time, and it was believed he learned of the warrant through relatives and fled the state, according to a criminal complaint.

Stiles had been arrested by Las Vegas police at least five times between 2001 and 2003 for burglary, battery and domestic violence, possession of an unregistered firearm and assault with a deadly weapon.

Darren Tuck, 26, of Pahrump gave the videotape of the assault to Nye County officials on Sept. 8 after another man reported seeing it, Boruchowitz said.

Tuck was arrested on charges of promoting child pornography and possession of child pornography, both felonies. He was released without bail pending an appearance Nov. 26 in Pahrump Justice Court.

Authorities said they planned to arrest Tuck on Friday night for violating probation. Beckett said he plans to charge Tuck with possession of child pornography and other charges.

Tuck told police that he found the tape in the desert outside Pahrump more than five months ago. He waited to show authorities the video because he was "scared," Boruchowitz said.

Authorities have accused Tuck of lying and not cooperating with the investigation.

Tuck's lawyer, Tom Gibson, has said he doesn't think he should be charged with any crime.

Tuck failed a lie detector test Friday in Las Vegas, said Beckett.

Las Vegas police Sgt. Leonard Marshall of the Metropolitan Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said most people who victimize children are males who are known to the family.

Clark County Family Services has reported 683 new investigations into child sexual abuse or assault within the home setting so far this year. That's some 85 new investigations each month, said Christine Skorupski, spokeswoman for the agency.

DeMeo said the warrant for Stiles' previous lewd act with the 6-year-old is consistent with his behavior with the girl on the videotape.

For pedophiles who tape sexual acts, "it's like a trophy," DeMeo said.

DeMeo said the decision to release the girl's image and name to the media was a tough one. Officials typically guard the identities of sexual assault victims, but DeMeo said he believed using the media was the only way the child would be found.

Boruchowitz said that at about the time authorities identified the girl on Friday, the girl's mother received a call from a friend telling her "your daughter is on TV."

The mother attempted to contact Nye County investigators, while they were trying to contact her, the detective said.

"The mother was not aware of anything that went on with this young girl," DeMeo said.

Boruchowitz traveled to the Las Vegas home and spoke with the girl and her mother.

Even though the girl is safe and in capable hands, there are others out there suffering from the same fate and worse, DeMeo said. "We must find a way to stop that."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.