Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada man, 72, gets up to life in prison for teen sex abuse

ELKO — A 72-year-old Nevada man accused of using kittens to lure a mentally disabled teenager into his home has been sentenced to up to life in prison for sexually abusing the 13-year-old girl.

Elko County District Court Judge Nancy Porter sentenced John McReynolds of Montello to up to two life sentences with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

The Vietnam veteran pleaded no contest to two felony counts last year. He originally faced more than 20 counts related to abusing and taking explicit photos of the girl with a mental capacity of a 7-year-old.

The Elko Daily Free Press reports McReynolds apologized at Monday's hearing, saying he deserved to be punished for a "drunken lapse" of judgment.

Prosecutors say the victim epitomized naiveté and helplessness, with no understanding of sex.

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