LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke a Las Vegas Metro police sergeant’s bail after detectives found additional child pornography in his possession while he was released from custody, according to documents obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators.

Prosecutors also filed two new child pornography-related charges against Kevin Menon, 42, Monday.

“While out on bail in this case, defendant has been found – yet again – to be in possession of over 300 additional images of children being sexually violated, exploited and put on display for defendant’s prurient sexual interests,” prosecutors wrote in a document filed Monday.

Some images included children under the age of five, according to prosecutors.

“It is incredibly difficult to look at the images he kept on all of these devices showing children – little girls – being sexually assaulted and exploited,” prosecutors wrote.

Menon already faced two previous child pornography-related charges in his second criminal case.

A grand jury indicted Menon for 13 charges related to an alleged scheme that resulted in individuals, mostly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip as Menon worked in plain clothes along with uniformed officers. Menon posted a $27,000 bond to remain out of custody after his Aug. 30 arrest.

On the day of his first arrest, Las Vegas Metro police executed a search warrant at Menon’s North Las Vegas home. Detectives found approximately 200 images of child sexual abuse material on two laptops, according to prosecutors.

On Oct. 23 as Menon headed to a court appearance for his first case, police took him into custody at the Regional Justice Center in connection with the new charges. Detectives executed a second search warrant at Menon’s home.

Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Nadia Wood set bail at $100,000 cash with a condition of high-level electronic monitoring. Menon posted bail and was released from jail on Oct. 26.

In court documents filed Monday, prosecutors said detectives found a flash drive inside a backpack in Menon’s garage on Oct. 23. The device contained 19 child sexual abuse material images, nine images considered ‘age difficult,’ meaning the individuals in the images may or may not be underage, and 166 child erotica images, according to prosecutors. Detectives also found a laptop which contained 54 child sexual abuse material images, 90 age difficult images, and 54 child erotica images, prosecutors wrote.

“Defendant was feloniously in possession of these images he saved on these devices while out on bail during the pendency of this case,” prosecutors stated.

Prosecutors filed the motion to revoke Menon’s bail in the first case.

“The facts underlying the instant case – in which defendant used his badge and position of authority while at work to illegally arrest or otherwise violate the rights of a dozen or so individuals (virtually all of whom were African American males) and directed officers to falsify arrest reports – shows a complete disregard for the safety of the community defendant was once entrusted to protect,” prosecutors wrote.  

In a character letter submitted in a previous court document by Menon’s defense team, Menon pointed out he is a 42-year-old bi-racial first generation American, has a history of volunteerism starting at the age of 14, and had been selected by Sheriff Kevin McMahill to participate in a law enforcement program overseas.

Menon claimed he was the only recruit in history to also teach while in the academy, he later became an instructor teaching search warrant preparation and execution classes, and a quote of his, ‘with the will of a warrior, but the heart of a guardian,’ was placed on banners.

“I served in specialized units, including the gang unit, central intelligence, and counterterrorism sections,” Menon wrote. “On 1 October, I was assigned the acting-sergeant of my squad in the gang unit, and was awarded a medal of honor for my actions.”

Menon was promoted to rank of sergeant in 2023, is fluent in four languages and has working knowledge of three more, and had previously converted to Judaism, he wrote.

Menon stated he has been married to his wife for 10 years and hopes to be father of at least two kids with her.

Prosecutors addressed Menon’s character letter.

“What he conveniently overlooks is the fact that he currently stands charged for crimes he committed while wearing the badge,” prosecutors wrote. “Clearly, defendant’s definition of making Las Vegas a ‘safe community’ by introducing child pornography onto devices in his possession is a far cry from state’s definition.”

Menon saved child pornography on a laptop he used for work, according to prosecutors.

Menon also claimed he attended Harvard College in his character letter. Prosecutors said they found a fake Harvard transcript on Menon’s device and that according to a representative from Harvard University, they found no records to indicate Menon was admitted to Harvard College or Harvard Medical School.

“This (Un)Talented Mr. Ripley schtick that he has put on for the court, officers at LVMPD and others, is exactly that – a con,” prosecutors wrote.

A hearing in the first case is scheduled for Nov. 6.

A preliminary hearing in the second case is scheduled for Nov. 7.

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.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

Source link