Metro: More than 1,000 cases of sexual assault this year

Standing next to the amplified photos of men suspected of sexual assault, Metro Police Sex Crimes bureau Lt. Richard Meyers today highlighted four notable cases investigated by his unit this year.

They include a man who police allege raped a woman at gunpoint, whom he just met on a dating app, a suspect connected to three attacks, one linked to eight, and another accused in six sexual assaults. Meyers described them as “violent predators.”

Meyers said Metro discussed the cases to “reach out and ask for additional victims to come forward, should there be any,” and to highlight his bureau’s work.

Although Metro has seen about a 21% drop in sexual assaults investigated in its jurisdiction this year, there have been 1,093 cases, according to statistics ending Saturday.

In most of them, about 1,000 incidents, the alleged perpetrators and the victims know each other, including 296 involving family members. Thirty-three have been committed by strangers, and the relationship was unknown in another 54.

The cases highlighted by Metro allegedly occurred against sex workers and other women targeted in areas where sex work is common, Meyers said.

Police allege Jorge Luis Perez, 32, raped a woman, whom he set up a meet with through a dating app, at gunpoint.

Meyers said the alleged incident occurred on Dec. 11 in the 5000 block of East Sahara Avenue. Perez, 32, was arrested a couple days later.

His Attorney Martin Hart said this afternoon that his client, who spoke with detectives, contends his innocence, noting that in the interview, “he denied there being any force whatsoever.”

Perez is facing five counts of sexual assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of kidnapping with the use of a deadly weapon, Las Vegas Justice Court logs show. Bail has been set at $100,000 bond with the condition that he does not possess any weapons, contact the victim, and submit to high-level electronic monitoring.

It wasn’t clear if he’s been able to post bail.

Luis Fernando Moreno, 37, is accused in three sexual assaults reported Oct 11, police said. In two of the alleged attacks, which took place in the early hours, Moreno had met with the victims in his car and raped them at gunpoint, police said.

He was arrested that day, police said.

A third victim was able to flee an attempted kidnap at gunpoint, police said. Moreno is facing 27 counts, including sexual assault, robbery and kidnapping, Las Vegas Justice Court records.

He is being held on a $1 million bond, and the Clark County District Court is evaluating his competency.

“Once that determination is made by medical professionals we can proceed with the matter in court,” his attorney, Michael Troiano said via text message.

Jamarr Lamonte Reed, 38, is linked to eight sexual assaults that occurred near Washington Avenue and Interstate 15 between November 2019 and April, Meyers said. He was arrested on April 6.

He is facing 35 felony counts, including sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, battery to commit a sexual assault and assault with a deadly weapon, Clark County District Court records show.

A jury trial was scheduled for January.

A copy of his arrest report wasn’t immediately available Wednesday, and his listed attorney could not be reached for comment this afternoon.

Michael Keithen Nickson, 27, was arrested on March 31 in connection with three sexual assaults, which occurred between January and March near Tropicana Avenue and Dean Martin Drive, police said.

Nickson is facing 15 felony counts, including sexual assault, kidnapping, battery to commit sexual assault against a minor over the age of 16, battery with a use of a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, Las Vegas Justice Court records show.

He posted a $100,000 bail earlier this month, was barred from contacting victims, and is being tracked via high-level GPS monitoring, court logs show.

Nickson is next due in court in January.

Anyone with additional information was asked to contact Metro at 702-828-3421. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or crimestoppersofnv.com.