Man accused of sexually assaulting 13-year-old

An 18-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos man is facing felony charges of sexual assault and lewdness with a minor after he allegedly molested two girls in public parks.

Alexander Jaiden Russell is being held on charges of sexual assault of a child under the age of 14 and lewdness with a 15-year-old.

Russell appeared in East Fork Justice Court on Monday in connection with his June 25 arrest where his bail was set at $25,000 bondable and John Malone was appointed to represent him.

According to court documents, A 15-year-old girl said Russell fondled her around 1 a.m. June 16 at Ranchos Aspen Park. The next morning a park ranger found someone had set a fire in the bathroom and Russell was sleeping at the park.

A 13-year-old girl accused Russell of getting her drunk and sexually assaulting her in Bluerock Park around 2 a.m. June 18.

During a phone interview with an investigator, Russell allegedly admitted the incidents. He claimed he tried to put out the fire in the bathroom by stomping on it, but there was a burn on the top of his shoe.

On Monday, prosecutor A.J. Hames argued Russell’s bail should remain at a high level.

Hames said that Russell had been convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Justice of the Peace Cassandra Jones said she felt the charged behavior showed an increasing risk to the community in setting bail. Should he post bail he was ordered not to have any contact with anyone younger than 18 without a parent’s consent.

• A warrant was issued for a Gardnerville woman with a long history of heroin abuse, who is in Washoe County custody for a probation violation.

Rachel Kristine Zacharias, 36, was scheduled to appear in Douglas County District Court for a review hearing on Monday.

Attorney Maria Pence said she found Zacharias in custody.

Zacharias was supposed to check into a treatment program but left after a short while. She was placed on diversion in October 2019 after she was arrested asleep at the wheel of a vehicle that was running and in gear while under the influence of heroin in May 2018. She was ordered to serve her probation after she’d dealt with another probation violation for burglary in California.