Hern bound up to district court to face child sex charges
The Pahrump man charged with felony sex crimes against two children under 14, was bound up to district court on Wednesday.
Brian Patrick Hern II is facing 20 counts related to his alleged actions and is scheduled to appear before Fifth Judicial District Court Judge Kim Wanker on May 13, at 9 a.m.
Prosecutors also convinced by Pahrump Justice Judge Gus Sullivan to raise Hern’s bail from $230,000 to $400,000.
Sullivan ordered the courtroom cleared prior to testimony from the victims, which lasted throughout the morning and afternoon.
Hern was arrested March 22 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 opened their investigation on allegations of child molestation occurring in the Pahrump Valley after a sexual assault was initially reported to the Division of Child and Family Services and forwarded to Nye County Sheriff’s detectives for further investigation.
According to a police report, the two juvenile victims, ages eight and 12, 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 subsequently placed him under arrest.
The investigation also revealed that the abuse had been occurring over approximately 18 months.
As the investigation is ongoing, anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Brainard at (775) 751-7000.
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes
