Porn suspect may be linked to other cases

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, May 7, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

The teenage girl that led authorities to arrest a 39-year-old Las Vegas man last weekend was not the only one that he photographed naked and may not have been the only one he sexually assaulted, Metro Police said.

Eric Root was arrested Saturday on 25 counts of child pornography, eight counts of using a minor to manufacture child pornography, four counts of sexual assault of a victim under 14 and two counts of sexual assault of a victim under 16.

"We are looking for other potential victims and asking them to come forward," Lt. Jeff Carlson said. It's not clear how many other possible victims exist.

Carlson said the victim, who is under 16, went to police Saturday to discuss an unrelated matter and mentioned her encounters with Root. Police obtained a warrant to search Root's parents' garage in southwest Las Vegas, where Root had built living quarters and a darkroom.

During the search, detectives found nude photographs of other girls who appear to be between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. Root allegedly took the photographs under the pretext that he was providing a portfolio for aspiring models.

"Some weren't minors, but some were, and that's what we're concerned about," Carlson said.

Root, a native of Las Vegas, has been working as a photographer for at least three years, Carlson said. Root's website says he worked as a medical technician until 1998, when he decided to pursue photography full-time.

Anyone with information on Root can call Metro's sexual assault unit at 229-3421 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.