Man is indicted on sex charges

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003 | 11:20 a.m.

A Clark County grand jury on Wednesday indicted a 21-year-old Las Vegas man on sexual assault charges stemming from the alleged molestation of two young girls.

An indictment unsealed Wednesday before District Judge Michael Douglas charges John Misseldine with one count of sexual assault with a minor under 14 and two counts of lewdness with a child under 14.

Misseldine, who is out of custody, will be arraigned Dec. 23 before District Judge Donald Mosley. His bail is set at $35,000. He faces 20 years to life in prison if convicted.

Authorities say the charges stem from an incident that occurred at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel off Christy Lane in Las Vegas.

Prosecutors say Misseldine, a former LDS missionary, touched a 7-year-old girl under her dress and touched both her and her 4-year-old sister over their clothing.

The alleged assaults were reported to police after the girls told their aunt that Misseldine had touched them, according to court records.

The indictment makes moot a scheduled preliminary hearing.

Misseldine's attorney, Robert Draskovich, said his client maintains his innocence in the case.

Draskovich said he does not think Misseldine would have been bound over to District Court on the charges had the state gone forward with the preliminary hearing.

"They took the case to the grand jury to avoid cross-examination, which would have further exposed the weaknesses of the charges," he said.