LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A suspended Las Vegas Metro police sergeant has agreed to serve at least four years in prison — and as many as 10 — as part of a plea deal involving arrests on the Las Vegas Strip and the possession of child pornography, documents said.
Metro police arrested Sgt. Kevin Menon, 43, in August. In his first case, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office alleged Menon abused his power by creating fake scenarios that resulted in citizens, mainly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported.
When detectives investigating that case seized Menon’s electronic devices, they said they found child sexual abuse material, also known as child pornography. This resulted in a second criminal case against Menon for child pornography-related charges.
In his third case, Menon was accused of setting up recording devices in bathrooms in his home, prosecutors said. Natasha Menon and Tamara Russell, who live with Kevin Menon, have insisted they are not victims and submitted affidavits stating they were aware of the recordings.
Menon agreed to a plea deal Wednesday following a settlement conference between his attorney, Robert Draskovich, and prosecutors. Menon agreed to plead guilty to charges including oppression under color of office, subornation of perjury, possession of child pornography and capturing an image of the private area of another person, the agreement said.
As part of the agreement, Menon could serve up to 10 years in prison. He would become parole eligible after serving four years. Since August, Menon has been in and out of jail, meaning he earned credit for time served. A judge most recently increased his bail to $1 million.
Menon will be sentenced on Aug. 4.
In court documents, Menon claims he tried to expose racism within the police department and that it is retaliating against him.
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.
After his initial arrest, the department placed Menon on leave with pay and suspended his police powers pending an investigation. The department has since stopped paying him, and it was unclear what his employment status would entail post-plea.
