Child Exploitation Prosecution

District Attorney Announces Sex Offender Sentenced to Life

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office secured a life sentence against a Reno man following his conviction on charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation committed against a female relative in his household.  The man pled guilty earlier this year and was sentenced last Tuesday to a maximum term of life in prison.  The sentence ensures that the man will serve a minimum of 45 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

Joshua Douglas Larsen 36, from Reno was sentenced on one count of Sexual Assault on a Child and one count of Promotion of Sexual Performance of a Minor by Judge Lidia Stiglich in Washoe County District Court.  Larsen pled guilty in August of this year and was sentenced on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 in Department 8 of Washoe County District Court.   

The investigation into this case began in March, 2016 when the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) began an investigation into the distribution and exchange of child pornography. ICAC detectives developed information that a suspect, later identified as Larson, had been engaged in exchanges of pornographic material depicting young children over the Internet.  Detectives were able to identify Larsen by linking his Internet provider (IP) and email addresses. They were further able to seize multiple images of child pornography depicting young children engaging in sexually explicit acts with adults linked to Larsen’s accounts. The investigation also determined that Larsen had sexually assaulted his 6 year old relative and had recorded and distributed these acts over the Internet as well. Sheriff’s Office Detectives worked with the Washoe County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) during the investigation of Larsen as part of this area’s multi-disciplinary approach to the investigation and prosecution of crimes committed against children. Larsen was arrested in April and this Office subsequently filed formal criminal charges against him. 

At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Nicole Hicks argued that Larsen committed the ultimate betrayal of the girl by sexually assaulting her, recording such acts and then distributing those images for others over the Internet.