Pahrump man arrested on sexual assault with minor under 14 charges

The Pahrump man accused of felony sex crimes with two children under 14 is scheduled to be formally arraigned in court this morning.

Brian Hern, 30, is being held on $230,000 bail after being arrested on multiple preliminary felony charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of two minors under the age of 14.

Hern first appeared before Pahrump Justice Court Judge Margaret Whittaker on March 23 when his bail was set.

Hern was arrested March 22 at approximately 4 p.m. and charged with four counts of sexual assault with a minor under 14, two counts of child abuse, and lewdness with a minor under 14.

On March 16, Nye County Sheriff’s detectives began an investigation for child molestation that was occurring in the Pahrump Valley after a sexual assault was initially reported to the Division of Child and Family Services and forwarded to NCSO detectives for further investigation.

According to a police report, the two juvenile victims, ages 8 and 12 years, participated in a forensic interview at the Nye County Child Advocacy Center in Pahrump.

During the forensic interview the juvenile victims disclosed, in detail, four accounts of sexual assault by Hern, according to police. Detectives processed the Hern residence and found physical evidence that corroborated the victims’ statements.

The sheriff’s office patrol division located Hern at his place of employment and detained him. Detectives interviewed Hern and placed him under arrest.

The investigation revealed that the abuse had been occurring over approximately 18 months.

Hern is being held at the Nye County Detention Center in lieu of bail. The investigation is ongoing, anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Brainard at (775)751-7000.