Pair get county’s Medal of Honor

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003 | 9:12 a.m.

The Clark County Commission was expected to honor a pair of Las Vegas residents and exercise enthusiasts today for their work in stopping an alleged sexual assault.

Justin Fountain, 21, and Pastor Tony Forehand, 44, will receive the county's Medal of Honor for thwarting the alleged attack on a 12-year-old girl who was walking to school Nov. 25.

Fountain and Forehand were exercising at the county's new Hollywood Recreation and Community Center when they looked out the center's windows and saw the girl fighting off a 16-year-old male.

Forehand ran out of the center, chased off the 16-year-old and helped the girl. Fountain, following closely behind, ran after the boy and brought him back to the center, where Clark County Park Police and Metro Police placed the suspect under arrest.

The teenager was charged with attempted sexual assault and kidnapping.

"I want to be a fireman, so I don't mind helping people," said Fountain, who now works as a security guard. Fountain is a Las Vegas native.

"I'm just thankful that God had us there," said Forehand, who is a pastor at Desert Hills Baptist Church on Nellis Boulevard near Boulder Highway. "I praise God for the timing and everything."

Both men were working out on the center's equipment when they saw the incident.

The 12-year-old appeared to be OK after the incident, Forehand said.

"She was terrified, of course," he said.

Forehand, who has lived in Las Vegas 18 years, said he and Fountain did what many in the community would have done.

"I don't think we did anything that the average man in Las Vegas wouldn't have done," Forehand said. "Police and firemen -- they are the heroes."

Commissioner Myrna Williams, who represents the district, said the pair were nonetheless noteworthy.

"These types of heroic efforts send a message to would-be criminals who prey on unsuspecting individuals that there are people in the community who are always watching to either stop criminal behavior or catch criminals in the act," Williams said.

The county last awarded its Medal of Honor in May to two Metro officers and three county citizens who rescued two families in two separate fires.

The County Commission was to recognize Forehand and Fountain during the "good news" section of the regular commission meeting, which began at 9 a.m. today.

Clark County Parks and Community Services spokesman Doug Bradford said the county is withholding the name of the victim and her alleged attacker because of their ages.