Palo Verde High School student, 16, accused in 'violent rape' case

A Palo Verde High School student is facing two dozen felony charges stemming from a series of sexual assaults in which Clark County prosecutors called him a predator.             

Maysen Melton, 16, was indicted by a grand jury on charges including sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping and battery with intent to commit sexual assault, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

According to the Review Journal, prosecutors painted a dark picture of Melton calling him a predator. Authorities allege Melton got into intimate situations with girls and then would push or trip them to the ground, remove their pants, despite their resistance, and rape them.

According to authorities, there are up to 4 victims.

In some cases, Melton allegedly took nude photos of the victims and threatened them if they did not send more.

Defense attorney Dustin Marcello says his client is not guilty. Marcello adds Melton was 14 and 15 years old at the time of the alleged acts and says they were consensual.

“You have older girls, taking advantage of a 14 or 15-year-old boy, and then using his lack of maturity and life experience against him and against long standing consensual relationships and then claiming certain actions during those relationships were suddenly non-consensual after the fact," said Marcello.

According to the Review Journal, Melton was expelled from Shadow Ridge High School and transferred to Palo Verde High School in October 2017.

The Clark County School District provided 13 Action News two notes sent from the principals at each of the schools:

ParentLink messaging sent the morning of 1/18/18:

 

Shadow Ridge:

 This is Shadow Ridge Principal Travis Warnick.

 I want to update you on a matter that has recently appeared in the news media. 

 You may have seen media reports about the arrest of a student on sex-related charges. The reports have stated that the student previously attended Shadow Ridge High School. 

 I cannot provide information that is part of a police investigation. However, I can tell you that my priority -- and the priority of our staff -- is the safety of each and every student on campus. We take swift action to protect the safety of all students on this campus.

 I understand that news like this is concerning. If you have additional information or concerns, please call Metro at 702-828-3421. 

Palo Verde

 This is Palo Verde Principal Darren Sweikert,

 I want to update you on a matter that has recently appeared in the news media. 

 You may have seen recent media reports about the arrest of a student on sex-related charges. Media reports have stated that the student attends Palo Verde High School.  

 I want to assure you that I have received no reports of any such behavior occurring on the Palo Verde campus. 

My top priority is the safety of each and every student on my campus, and I understand that news like this is concerning.

Contact 13 spoke to Melton's mother by phone but she declined comment.