A Reno man made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday after an indictment alleging sexual abuse of a child on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Reno.
As alleged in the indictment, on Dec. 1, 2025, Bruce Sanchez engaged in sexual contact with a nine-year-old child who is an enrolled member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.
Sanchez was charged with one count of aggravated sexual abuse within Indian Country and three counts of abusive sexual contact within Indian Country.
A trial is to begin on Aug. 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Anne R. Traum.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada, the case was investigated by the FBI Reno Resident Agency and Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope Brady is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the initiative coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
