Girl’s mother testifies in Stiles child molestation trial

With her voice clear and demeanor composed, a mother testified Wednesday about Chester Stiles’ alleged sexual assault of her 2-year-old daughter, which was recorded on video.

The mother told the jury in Stiles’ trial that she learned of the alleged molestation through friends who saw her daughter’s televised image in September 2007. The captured stills were taken from video that allegedly shows Stiles sexually assaulting the girl.

At the time, the girl’s identity wasn’t known.

The young mother said she didn’t immediately recognize her daughter because the image quality was so poor. But, she said, she recognized the dress her daughter wore. The girl’s grandmother had bought it for her.

The mother, now 24, was 19 when the alleged assault on her child happened in Las Vegas in 2003. She said she was living with a friend and working at a local casino and at a pizza restaurant. She typically worked from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

During the day, her daughter was watched by a roommate. The roommate’s mother, Tina Allen, was Stiles’ girlfriend and brought him over to the apartment, authorities said.

The girl, now 8, has no memory of the sexual assault, said the mother, who remained poised while giving testimony but began crying outside the courtroom.

Stiles faces more than 20 counts of sexual assault and lewdness with a minor. His trial, which started Monday, is expected to last more than a week.

If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Among the evidence prosecutors will present is the videotape that allegedly shows Stiles sexually assaulting the small girl. Nye County Detective David Boruchowitz told the jury the alleged assailant is heard calling the young girl by her name on the video.

On Wednesday morning, District Judge Jennifer Togliatti ruled that the public could not view the video when it’s shown to the jury.

The tape will be shown in court with barriers placed around the screen so the general public won’t see the video when it’s played for the jury.

Through a spokesman, Togliatti said the video is graphic and wanted to cut down on distractions to the jury.

The man who found the videotape in the desert near Pahrump, Darrin Tuck, testified Wednesday that he discovered it while riding his motorcycle. He said he didn’t turn it over for about six months because he was afraid he’d get in trouble with the police.

Tuck said he was using methamphetamines regularly and that contributed to his bad decisions.

“If you found child porn, wouldn’t you be a little scared too?” Tuck said.

After finding the tape, he took it home and eventually watched it. He said he only viewed a few minutes of the tape before burying it in the yard.

He said he turned it over to police after his father took him to see a preacher.

Nye County police charged Tuck with possession of child pornography and arrested him. He pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer and was given probation.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.