Crime Corner

Pahrump man arrested on preliminary charges of lewdness after allegedly groping young girl

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 3000 block of Fritz Lane on a child molestation call.

Juan Carlos Lucas-Zuniga was taken into custody by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office Sunday after a 9-year-old girl reported a man grabbed her breast, according to police.

Upon arrival, the responding officer was told by the victim’s mother that Lucas-Zuniga had grabbed her breast.

The victim was visibly shaken and did not want to leave her father’s arms where she felt safe, but she eventually did to speak with a deputy.

The victim explained that Lucas-Zuniga allegedly brought a toy to her bedroom from another room as a present. She then turned to place the toy on her bed and when she turned back around, Lucas-Zuniga stepped into her, grabbing her left breast with his right hand, police said.

After interviewing the victim, deputies were able to track Lucas-Zuniga down at a residence on the 4200 block of Cody Road, where he identified himself as just Juan Lucas and was reluctant to give any further information.

Lucas-Zuniga told deputies that he had not been arrested before, but through help from dispatch, they were able to positively identify Lucas-Zuniga by his tattoos.

When asked why he gave a false name, he had no response and refused to answer any further questions on the matter.

Lucas-Zuniga was transported to the Nye County Detention Center on the preliminary lewdness with a child under 14 charge.

Woman arrested after leading deputies on highway chase

A Pahrump woman was arrested on Sunday after leading police on a car chase that included her driving on the wrong side of the road.

Julie Stone was taken into custody by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office and charged with three preliminary counts of felony eluding, reckless driving and driving the wrong way on a highway.

A sheriff’s deputy was traveling southbound on Highway 160 in a sheriff’s office-marked car when he noticed a red-colored vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road.

When the deputy got behind the red car with lights and sirens on, Stone failed to stop and sped up, driving through the parking lots of Walmart and Albertson’s, according to the arrest report.

Stone made her way back onto Highway 160, where she again started to drive the wrong way in the travel lanes against oncoming traffic, causing vehicles to pull off to the side, police said.

Stone then made her way down Simkins Road, where she drove 45 mph in a marked 15 mph zone where children were present at the time, according to the sheriff’s office.

After coming to an abrupt stop, Stone then accelerated once again. Stone eventually came to a halt on the 5000 block of Holly Street, where she was taken into custody without further incident.

Stone was taken to the Nye County Detention Center where she was being held on $5,545 bond.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.