A man accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl after allegedly abducting her and her 8-year-old brother from Fernley was given a public defender Tuesday and will appear in Fernley Justice Court on June 3 for a preliminary hearing.
New information about Brandt Whetstone, 39, was also released by authorities, giving insight into his recent past.
"Whetstone moved to Nevada from Oregon with his fiance and was staying with her parents in Washoe County," sheriff's Investigator Robin Hall said Tuesday. He said during the course of the investigation, it was discovered Whetstone was not a transient, but was in Fernley on a construction job and was staying at the Truck Inn Motel.
The June 3 hearing will determine if there is enough evidence to try Whetstone on one count of felony sexual assault with a minor under 14 years old and two counts of kidnapping. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.
He stands accused of of luring the children May 13 from their North Fernley front yard with promises of candy.
According to the criminal complaint filed against him Monday, Whetstone allegedly drove to a local market, bought candy for the children, blindfolded the boy and released him in a residential neighborhood and "then drove the girl to 'Out of Town Park' where he slapped her and forcibly committed sexual assault upon her."
She was found walking toward her home shortly after her brother told his parents a man drove off with her, Hall said.
Descriptions from the children of Whetstone and his truck helped police locate him May 14 at a home where he was doing siding work.
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