Quantcast
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Breaking News


Teacher facing child pornography charges was a licensed foster parent

Dozens of young boys might have fallen victim to a longtime Boulder City teacher and soccer coach who has been charged with 72 child pornography-related counts, Boulder City Police Chief Thomas Finn said today.

As detectives from the Boulder City and Henderson police departments comb through computers and videotapes seized from the home of 46-year-old Charles Richard “Rick” Rogers, Finn said the case is one of the largest in scope that he has ever dealt with.


Most Popular Stories
  • Man shot by police identified as local attorney
  • Three children fall from vehicle; mothers arrested
  • Boy struck, killed by car pulling out of driveway
  • Second person dies after being restrained by police
  • Las Vegas police make arrest in 2008 slaying
  • Seven unrestrained children were in car when three fell out
  • Judge rules M Resort must reinstate two fired security guards
  • Boyd makes another move to get Station Casinos' assets
  • MGM Mirage reports $750.4 million quarterly loss
  • MGM Mirage reports $750.4 million quarterly loss
  • Travel club honors Nevada with more Five Diamond properties




  • “Certainly it’s a huge case for Boulder City, and even in my experience as an officer in New Jersey for 25 years,” he said.

    He said he “conservatively” estimates that dozens of victims might be involved, although as of late today afternoon detectives had not positively identified any victims. He wouldn’t say whether the boys are or were Rogers' students.

    Rogers has spent more than 20 years as a youth soccer coach in the town and most recently taught science at Garrett Middle School. He was a foster parent for two children since 1996.

    There are at least three victims, and as many as five, in a videotape that police took from Rogers’ Boulder City home, according to Rogers’ arrest report. After a video of a youth soccer game, the tape cuts to several segments of child pornography.

    The first two segments show Rogers performing fellatio on a boy 6 to 8 years old and a boy 7 to 10 years old, the arrest report states.

    The second video, time stamped from 2006, shows three nude boys no older than 12 years old in Rogers’ living room playing with condoms and masturbating, it states. Rogers, wearing a shirt with the word “soccer” on it, mimics having anal sex with one of them.

    Rogers’ face, and the furniture in his home, is visible in segments of the tape, according to the arrest report.

    The Clark County School District has placed him on paid leave, and he is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on $144,000 bail.

    Rogers first was licensed as a Clark County foster parent in 1994, according to Christine Skorupski, spokeswoman for the Department of Family Services.

    He fostered one child in 1996 and another in 2004 and 2008, she said. She wouldn’t identify the sex of the children.

    Skorupski said the department is working with Boulder City police and the Clark County district attorney’s office. Rogers underwent extensive background checks through the FBI and local law enforcement, she said.

    Nothing of concern surfaced during the checks, Skorupski said.

    “Were there any red flags? No,” she said. “I don’t think we could have done anything differently to prevent this.”

    The case has the potential to become one of the worst of its kind in the history of the school district. Terri Miller, president of the Las Vegas-based advocacy group Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct and Exploitation, said it’s “right up there at the top with the worst.”

    She also criticized the district for failing to catch on to Rogers.

    “The best advice I can tell parents at this point is, 'Don’t be afraid of the truth, because the truth will stop him,’ ” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask your kids what’s happened.”

    Police are trying to identify the boys. They are asking parents of boys who have been left alone with Rogers to contact the department and e-mail a detective a photo of their child at the age he would have been alone with him.

    “That’s our primary focus right now, keeping him in jail and identifying these kids that are so often ashamed and embarrassed to come forward,” Finn said.

    Rogers has worked for the school district since 1992 and has coached soccer teams with the Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department and spent more than two decades coaching the BC United club team before retiring last year.

    Henderson police learned of the case after they received an anonymous envelope with three electronic storage devices and a note saying they came from Rogers’ home, according to his arrest report.

    On one thumb drive, investigators found several photos and 10 pornographic videos, which included scenes of men with boys about 7 to 10 years old, the report said. The same drive contained lesson plans and other school materials with Rogers’ name on them and some family snapshots including Rogers.

    Police searched Rogers’ home and found a photo album with more than 50 pictures of child pornography in a drawer under his bed. Rogers admitted to having the photos at his house, the report said.

    More victims could surface on the electronic materials after detectives see what’s on them, Finn said.

    Rogers is being charged with 64 counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of use of a minor in production of pornography, three counts of lewdness with a child under 14 years and two counts of sexual assault of a minor under 14 years.

    Police want parents to contact Detective Michelle Isham at 702-293-9376 if they believe their son has ever been left alone with Rogers.

    Review-Journal writer Lynnette Curtis contributed to this report. Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 21 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Report abuse

    larredc wrote on April 07, 2009 05:52 PM: why are we not eliminating these types of people from our society in this county.......no loss as far as I am concerned for each on we execute


    Report abuse

    Craven Morehead wrote on April 04, 2009 01:14 AM: Atta Boy Luther!!!!


    Report abuse

    Isabelle wrote on April 04, 2009 12:23 AM: With all due respect, there anit that much going on in Boulder City to even employ a cop full time. So for Finn arresting someone pissing on the sidewalk is probably the biggest thing he has ever had to deal with.
    These lazy SOB's keep the Boulder City donuts shop in business.
    Let's get real.
    And keep Henderson out unless you want a case to get totally screwed up.
    If Hillbilly Henderson police department gets involve this man will walk out a free man - guaranteed!


    Report abuse

    Lisa wrote on April 03, 2009 11:23 PM: When this story first broke there where numerous current and former students and even parents defending this monster.....what do all of you think now???
    Fry him !!


    Report abuse

    Bill Clinton wrote on April 03, 2009 10:04 PM: Looks like a pervert.


    Report abuse

    joe wrote on April 03, 2009 09:41 PM: Clark County Schools is so impressive with their exemplary work force of felons.


    Report abuse

    Angela wrote on April 03, 2009 09:37 PM: I don't know why people are surprised. Guys like this will do anything to be close to children. I hope the penalty is extremely severe.


    Angela

    Backlinks


    Report abuse

    And he was a... wrote on April 03, 2009 08:30 PM: Not only was he a cop, he

    was a fireman on overtime,

    worked for Nevada Power during the rate increases,

    Worked at SW Gas during their rate increase,

    worked for higher taxes in the legislature,

    worked for the County. and State and refused to reneotiate his COLA & step,

    stole money from the football charity drive,

    was a part time priest,

    and applied for a job at the IRS!


    Report abuse

    AND HE WAS A... wrote on April 03, 2009 07:00 PM: HE USED TO BE A COP TOO!!!
    TO SERVE AND PROTECT... RIGHT!?


    Report abuse

    Reality Bites wrote on April 03, 2009 05:35 PM: And just exactly who conducted his background information? The foster parent information and/or the Boulder City School system?
    How do these creeps get past all of these 'checks and balanaces'?
    Maybe 'they' should also include a site check at home and, while we are here, let's see what your computer has on it.


    Read All Comments