Two Nevada Filipinos face charges of committing lewd acts on minors

By Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

May 1, 2014

LAS VEGAS, NEV. – 64-year old Elio Reyes voluntarily surrendered to the Northwest Metropolitan Command and confessed that he inappropriately touched his 9-year-old stepdaughter at least two times on different occasions.

In a police report Reyes says his wife told him not to report the incident to authorities for fear that Reyes would lose his job and pension.

But Reyes says he spoke up so he could get help for his behavior.

Reyes was charged with committing lewd acts on a child under 14 years old.

Meantime another Pinoy in Las Vegas was charged with a lewd act on a minor.

30-year-old José Santos allegedly sexually assaulted a family member.

A bail has been set for Santos at $100 thousand dollars.

Reyes is now on house arrest while Santos will remain incarcerated at the Clark County Detention Center.

They’re both due to appear in court this month.

Meantime, family court Judge Frank Sullivan of the Nevada Family Court says that if parents notice something different and suspicious when it comes to their children and feel that their children have been abused, they should alert authorities right away and get help.

“The young children many times when they think it’s their fault they done something wrong. They’re embarrassed. So it is very hard for them to come forward. We do encourage them to tell a trusted adult someone they trust: a relative, a parent. If they think they trust their parent a teacher. Someone they have a close relationship. Unfortunately most children will tell their friends, They will tell their peers and we tell those peers to try to educate that if someone tells you that it is important for you to talk to your friend and get an responsible adult so we can get involved and try to help that child,” said Judge Franklin.

Sullivan says the government provides counseling to children who go through abuse, as well as their parents and even their abuser.

“Any time the child is under 16, the child cannot consent under 16. So anytime someone touches a child inappropriately the criminal case if they know about it can prosecute. What happens with criminal case many times its tough for them to prosecute. Many times victim wont confess about it. They won’t talk about it when they investigate. It’s always criminal for any adult to perpetrate a minor under 16,” said Judge Franklin.

In Nevada those found guilty of committing lewd acts on a minor will be required to register a sex offender for life aside from possible jail time of up to six years.