A Churchill County justice of the peace has released a man facing nine felony charges, including allegations of sexually assaulting two children in his care, as he awaits his next court appearance.
Justice of the Peace Ben Trotter ordered 32-year-old Sebastien Landers released on his own recognizance, meaning he was not required to post bail. During the hearing, Trotter said the case “could go either way” and ruled that the alleged crimes occurred inside Landers’ home and involved his girlfriend’s children, making him a potential danger to them but not to the broader community.
Court records show Trotter previously released another defendant in January, charged with four counts of lewdness with a child. In that case, the defendant, Felipe Rodriguez-Martinez, was also released without posting bail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that defendants should not be held in jail solely because they cannot afford bail. The court stated that the use of bail is necessary to ensure a defendant appears in court or to protect the community. In Landers’ case, bail would have totaled nearly $1 million.
Landers is required to check in with the court daily by phone while awaiting his preliminary hearing in May.
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