It happens faster than you can imagine. Your teenager has a smartphone. They have a boyfriend or girlfriend. They send a photo. Or maybe they receive one. They think it is private. They think it is just between them.

Then, the relationship ends. The photo gets shared. Or a parent finds it on a phone.

Suddenly, police are at your door. Your child isn’t just in trouble at school; they are being accused of distribution of child pornography or statutory rape.

The words alone are enough to make you sick.

I am Attorney Michael Gowdey. For over 30 years, I have defended families in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. I have seen how quickly a teenage mistake can turn into a legal catastrophe.

The laws regarding sex crimes in Nevada were written to catch predators. But too often, they catch teenagers who are just exploring relationships in the digital age.

If your child is facing these charges, you are terrified of one thing above all else: The Sex Offender Registry.

You are right to be worried. Being on that list changes everything. It dictates where they can live, where they can work, and who they can be.

But there is hope. The law is evolving. We have defenses. And we know how to fight to make sure one bad decision doesn’t label your child for life. These accusations can result in criminal charges and serious legal consequences, making it critical to seek immediate legal help.

You might think, “But they were dating! They both wanted to do it.” The law doesn’t always care. Even if the sexting was part of consensual sex between teens, Nevada law may still impose penalties. However, less severe penalties may apply when both parties are close in age, especially if they are in the same age bracket.

• If your child (age 16) takes a nude photo of themselves and sends it to their boyfriend (age 17), the boyfriend is now in possession of child pornography, even though both are in the same age bracket and the act may have been consensual.
• If the boyfriend forwards that photo to a group chat, he is distributing child pornography.

This happens every day in Clark County high schools. Good kids with no criminal history are finding themselves facing charges that carry mandatory prison time in the adult system.

The age of consent in Nevada is 16 years old. This means that individuals under the age of 16 cannot legally consent to sexual activity in Nevada. Sexual conduct with a minor under the age of consent is considered statutory rape, regardless of whether the minor consented or initiated the sexual activity. Nevada’s statutory rape laws apply in all cases where one party is under 16, even if both parties believe the relationship is consensual.

Statutory rape laws are designed to protect children from adults. Nevada’s consent laws set the age of consent at 16, meaning that sexual activity with someone below this age may be considered statutory rape. But what happens when two teenagers are dating?

• If both parties are under 18 but over 16, consensual sexual intercourse and other sexual acts are generally legal.
• If one person is 18 and the other is 15, any sexual act or sexual activity, even if consensual, may be considered statutory rape under Nevada law.

Statutory sexual seduction is a specific offense in Nevada involving a sexual relationship with a minor aged 14 or 15 when the defendant is at least four years older.

• Housing: Your child cannot live near schools or parks. This makes finding an apartment almost impossible.
• Jobs: Employers run background checks. A sex offense is often an automatic disqualifier.
• Social Stigma: Their name and photo could be on a public website. Neighbors will know.

We handle these cases quietly and aggressively. We know how to keep your family’s name out of the media whenever possible. We have successfully defended clients against serious allegations for three decades.

We work with top experts—psychologists and counselors—who specialize in adolescent behavior. We use their reports to show the judge that your child needs guidance, not punishment.