Police find child pornography on Las Vegas sergeant’s laptops amid unrelated investigation: docs
Kevin Menon allegedly downloaded child sexual abuse material, also known as child pornography, according to Las Vegas Metro police. The sergeant, who was previously indicted on accusations that he orchestrated faked arrests on the Las Vegas Strip, faces new charges related to possession of child pornography.
Nov 4
/
KLAS
Detectives found numerous images of nude prepubescent girls on laptops Menon had access to, according to an arrest report obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators.
“The girls in the images were posed in a sexual manner,” the report stated.
“The girls in the images were posed in a sexual manner,” the report stated.
Police said they found 18 child sexual abuse material images, 20 age-difficult images where the individuals appeared to be underage but that could not be confirmed, and 20 child erotica images described as files where children were clothed or partially clothed on a black MacBook Pro.
Police also found 20 child sexual abuse material images, 27 age-difficult images and 86 child erotica images on a silver MacBook Air, the report stated.
Menon downloaded child sexual abuse material and child erotica images from a Russian website, according to the report. The search history included terms like “teen pee,” and another which included the term, “pedo.”
“It should be noted that ‘pedo’ is commonly used term that is shorthand for ‘pedophile,’” the arrest report stated.
“It should be noted that ‘pedo’ is commonly used term that is shorthand for ‘pedophile,’” the arrest report stated.
Menon was taken into custody Wednesday as he walked into the Regional Justice Center for his initial arraignment on his first case.
Prosecutors filed two new charges of possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child.
Metro police returned to Menon’s home Wednesday with another search warrant. More than a dozen officers were seen outside the North Las Vegas house while Menon’s wife waited in tears and then left with the family dog.
In his original case, Metro police arrested Menon on Friday, Aug. 30 at department headquarters. A grand jury indicted him on 13 charges for his alleged abuse of power while heading a special team on the strip.
In his original case, Metro police arrested Menon on Friday, Aug. 30 at department headquarters. A grand jury indicted him on 13 charges for his alleged abuse of power while heading a special team on the strip.
Investigators within the department believe Menon orchestrated fake arrests by instigating situations with the public without probable cause, documents said. In one case, Menon ordered the search of a car without any reason, police said. In another, the sergeant, who often worked in a plain clothes capacity, intentionally collided with a person on a pedestrian bridge, leading to their arrest, police investigators allege.
Most of the citizens seen on video who appeared to be targeted were Black men.
Most of the citizens seen on video who appeared to be targeted were Black men.
After his arrest, the department placed Menon on leave with pay and his police powers were suspended pending an investigation. The department has since stopped paying him.
Menon is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning. He was being held Wednesday evening without bond.
Menon is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning. He was being held Wednesday evening without bond.
Police said Menon is a flight risk and may be a danger to the community and noted he has several firearms, a passport and has extensive travel history. They requested bail amount of $250,000 with conditions of release to forfeit all firearms and his passport.
Menon’s attorney, Dominic Gentile, filed a motion to set reasonable bail Wednesday afternoon. In the motion obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators, Gentile pointed out that Menon had been cooperative, and went to police headquarters on Aug. 30 knowing he would be arrested. He was booked and processed without incident, according to Gentile.
Gentile noted that prosecutors went to the grand jury after Menon invoked his right to a preliminary hearing within 15 days.
“A mere 21 minutes before the scheduled preliminary hearing was set to occur on October 9, 2023, the state filed an indictment,” Gentile wrote. “In doing so, the state prevented Sgt. Menon and the public from hearing testimony of the accusing witnesses and further prevented the defense from cross-examining witnesses and presenting favorable evidence.”
“A mere 21 minutes before the scheduled preliminary hearing was set to occur on October 9, 2023, the state filed an indictment,” Gentile wrote. “In doing so, the state prevented Sgt. Menon and the public from hearing testimony of the accusing witnesses and further prevented the defense from cross-examining witnesses and presenting favorable evidence.”
Gentile said Menon realized he was being followed on his way to the courthouse Wednesday morning.
“Does Metro regularly follow defendants to court to conduct non-violent arrests?” Gentile wrote. “One is left to wonder why such a choice was made in the instant case, particularly considering Sgt. Menon was nothing but cooperative during his prior booking.”
“Does Metro regularly follow defendants to court to conduct non-violent arrests?” Gentile wrote. “One is left to wonder why such a choice was made in the instant case, particularly considering Sgt. Menon was nothing but cooperative during his prior booking.”
Gentile argued for $10,000 bail in the motion and stated Menon had never been disciplined at work, he maintained one of the highest levels of clearance at Metro and he had been selected by Sheriff Kevin McMahill to participate in a police exchange program with the United Arab Emirates in October 2023.
Gentile also asked the court to prohibit police from searching an iPad seized on Oct. 23. It was purchased for the sole purpose of assisting defense counsel with the oppression case, according to Gentile.
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