A man previously out on bail for child sex-related charges was re-arrested last week on child pornography-related charges.
Reno Police say last October, the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (H.E.A.T.) Unit was conducting a two-day operation at a property in Reno, targeting adults trying to buy sex from minors. During that operation, 29-year-old Nathan Neil was arrested on multiple felony charges, including Luring a Child with the Use of a Computer, Attempted Kidnapping, Attempted Statutory Sexual Seduction, Attempted Abuse of a Child for Sexual Exploitation, and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
That case remains active and is pending adjudication.
As part of the initial investigation, police say digital devices belonging to Neil were seized and later searched pursuant to a search warrant. Authorities say an examination of those devices revealed the possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), commonly referred to as child pornography, as well as evidence indicating the distribution of that material.
Based on that, investigators developed probable cause for additional charges.
Last Thursday, members of the H.E.A.T. Unit, with assistance from the Regional Gang Unit, located and arrested Neil in Sparks. At the time of his arrest, Neil was out on bail related to the October 2025 case.
He was booked into the Washoe County Jail on additional charges including Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, nine counts of Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon.
The HEAT Unit is a regional task force comprised of detectives from the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, and Washoe County School Police Department, dedicated to investigating and combating human exploitation and sex trafficking throughout Northern Nevada.
(Reno Police contributed to this report.)
