Officer probed in stalking of teen

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001 | 11:05 a.m.

A Metro Police narcotics detective relieved of duty after having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy is now being investigated for stalking the teen, police officials told the Sun.

Detective Vinten Hartung, 42, was ordered to stay away from the teenager after the boy's father complained to police officials about the relationship in November. Prosecutors are still reviewing the case to determine if Hartung will face criminal charges from the relationship.

Now Hartung is accused of going over to the boy's home on Christmas Day and leaving a present for the teen, Undersheriff Richard Winget said. Officials would only say the present was "letters and paperwork."

The boy and his family were not home at the time the present was left. Metro was called to the house, and a police report was made that day listing Hartung "as the suspect in a stalking complaint," Winget said.

Hartung, a Metro officer for 11 years, was facing an internal investigation for conduct unbecoming an officer and now faces insubordination -- a violation that could lead to his firing. He could not be reached for comment this morning.

"He is not helping himself," Winget said. "He is making it more difficult on himself in regards to any possible discipline he could face."

Detectives are just starting the criminal investigation into the stalking allegations, Winget said.

Prosecutors from Clark County and the U.S. attorney's office plan to meet this week to determine if Hartung will face any criminal charges from the relationship, Doug Herndon, head of the special victims unit, said.

Hartung has been on administrative leave with pay since Nov. 17 after the father of the boy complained to Metro officials. A criminal investigation was conducted, with the report forwarded to county and federal prosecutors to see if any crimes were present in the relationship.

County prosecutors are looking into a charge of furnishing alcohol to minors, but appear reluctant to press a "crime against nature" charge against Hartung.

"In the four of five years I've (been in the special victims unit), I don't think we've ever charged that crime by itself," Herndon said. "It's generally charged in conjunction with a sex assault. I'm not real comfortable charging it as the only crime committed."

The "infamous crimes against nature" statute refers only to homosexual sex and defines a minor as under 18. In Nevada the age of consent is 16, meaning a person of that age can agree to have a sexual relationship with someone older.

The current investigation into the stalking allegation will not affect the prosecutors' decision on the other charges.

"I think it would have a great bearing on what the police do internally, but it doesn't have any bearing on the decision of the infamous crimes against nature charge," Herndon said.

The initial police investigation determined there was a sexual relationship between the boy and Hartung and it was consensual. Apparently the two met over the Internet in an America Online chat room named "m for m" -- men for men. The 16-year-old boy later joined a baseball team coached by Hartung, police said.

The relationship lasted for about five months, police said.

U.S. Attorney's officials will determine if Hartung will face the federal charge of using the Internet to persuade or influence a minor for illegal sexual activity

"I am troubled by the use of the Internet," Herndon said.

Hartung will remain on paid leave until the internal investigation is completed, most likely in a couple of weeks, Winget said.