Child porn, lewdness suspects plead guilty

A Carson City man pleaded guilty Monday to attempted lewdness with a child.

Charles Pierson, 37, entered the guilty plea in Carson City District Court before Judge Jim Wilson. If convicted, Pierson faces up to 20 years in prison. He could receive probation if a psychosexual evaluation by a psychologist determines he is not likely to reoffend. He will also be under lifetime sex offender supervision and will be required to register with police.

According to court documents, Pierson, at the time a security officer in Reno, was arrested on suspicion of felony open and gross lewdness and child abuse causing mental harm.

Officers served a search warrant on Pierson's Hot Springs Road apartment on Dec. 17 after receiving information that he was allegedly showing an 8-year-old girl child pornography and masturbating in front of her.

The day after the search, Pierson, carrying a Bible with the search warrant tucked inside, turned himself in to police and allegedly confessed, the arrest report said.

While the girl said Pierson tongue kissed her and pulled her pants down to look at her, Pierson denied kissing the child in that way, but admitted to fondling himself in front of her.

Pierson told investigators he had been the victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of his father, who died in prison. H e said his family often commented he was just like his dad.

"He said, 'They knew that I was a molester,'" Detective Dena Lacy wrote in the report.

Pierson said that, when he drank, he found the victim "too cute" and she aroused him, the report states.

Also before Judge Wilson on Monday:

• Barry Rubin, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of visual pornography of a person under 16. Rubin was arrested Nov. 1 as a result of a Nevada Attorney General investigation. If convicted Rubin faces up to six years in prison, but could also receive probation if a psychosexual evaluation finds he won't be likely to reoffend. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

• Ivan Manzano Alonso, 26, was poised to plead guilty to child neglect or endangerment, but instead withdrew from a plea bargain and asked for a jury trial. Manzano Alonso is accused of dislocating the arm of a 4-week-old baby girl. An X-ray revealed the baby had a previous fracture of her left shoulder and a dislocated elbow.

Manzano Alonso denied injuring the baby, but other children in the home, ages 4 and 9, said he allegedly jerked the baby out of her mother's arms during a dispute. He will be arraigned on felony child abuse charges on Feb. 14 and a trial date will be set.

• Christopher Earl Margrave, 21, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to sell. He faces up to four years in prison when sentenced. April 18.

• Eric Dean Larson, 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of gross misdemeanor destruction of property. He and a friend used a BB gun to shoot out 13 windows on an Arrowhead Drive business. Larson could receive up to two years in jail when sentenced April 25.

• Joshua Terry Kent Stephens, 26, pleaded guilty to third-offense domestic battery. As part of the plea agreement, both sides agree to ask for 12 to 32 months in prison when Stephens is sentenced on April 18. The judge could give him more.