[media id=616 width=320 height=240]
Aaron Hughes, once a rising star on the Elko Police Department now faces a life sentence in prison after pleading guilty to felony incest Monday before District Judge Nancy Porter.
Hughes guilty plea ended at least one chapter in a case that began over four years ago with the attempted theft of mining equipment in 2008.
In August of that year Hughes was forced to resign after his arrest for theft of an all terrain vehicle at the Jerritt Canyon mine site north of Elko.
According to then Elko County Under sheriff Rocky Gonzalez, Hughes may have been informed by the owners of the recently closed mine that security at the facility was lacking.
“The owners came to us (Sheriff’s Department) to ask for help in securing the place,” Gonzalez said. “We said they would have to arrange their own security. But they could have gone to the Elko PD with the same request or he (Hughes) could have found out just from talk.”
Hughes, then age 36, had been with the Elko PD for over a decade. Beginning as a patrolman he rose swiftly through the ranks. In addition to being in command of the uniformed officers, Hughes also commanded the department’s SWAT team and headed the anti-meth campaign and was the Public Information Officer of the EPD.
“It was a major shock to all law enforcement in the County,” Gonzalez added at the time.
But that wasn’t the only shock to local law enforcement.
Six months after his arrest for theft a search of his computer and cell phone by police found videos and photographs of Hughes and a young girl later identified as a female relative described as pornographic.
Originally charged with creating child pornography as well as felony incest Hughes agreed to the plea bargain shortly before the case went to trial.
He will be sentenced March 25th.
The grand larceny charges are still pending and the former policeman will remain on bail until that hearing.
The change of plea hearing is being webcast on www.coyote-tv.com.
The sentence for felony incest is 2 years to life in prison.
