Police: Juvenile probation officer accused of sexual misconduct with teen

A juvenile probation officer who has worked for Clark County for more than three decades was taken into custody and placed on leave after a child in the juvenile justice system accused him of sexual misconduct, according to a Las Vegas police arrest report.

Eddie Wide, of Henderson, faces charges of child endangerment and two counts of a person older than 25 engaging in sexual conduct with a person in care of child services who is 16 or older, court records show.

Officers were called to the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center on April 21 after an accuser — identified in the report as a teenager whose name was redacted — alleged to staff that Wide had molested them, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

The accuser told police that Wide, who is not his direct parole or probation officer, began texting the teen in January. The teen said they met four times between January and April and that sexual acts occurred during two of those meetings, the report said.

During two alleged sexual encounters, the accuser said Wide took them to a parking area behind the detention center, recorded the acts, and gave the victim money — at least $440 in total — afterward, according to the arrest report. Metro said Wide told the teen not to report him.

In an interview with Metro investigators, Wide, who said he’s employed by the county for 31 years, said he met with the teen outside of work three times but denied any sexual contact or recording any sexual encounters, the report said.

Wide added that he often gave money to juveniles he worked with, or would meet them at thrift stores or the mall, the report said. Wide told police he estimated he gave the child about $200.

County: Wide on leave

Metro later executed a warrant at Wide’s home in Henderson, where eight electronic devices were recovered, police said. Investigators also collected towels inside of two vehicles used by Wide and DNA samples, the report said, and investigators took nude photographs of Wide.

Wide was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on April 22, records show.

County spokesperson Jennifer Cooper said Tuesday that Wide is on leave pending investigation but that officials are fully cooperating with law enforcement.

Las Vegas Justice Court records show Wide posted a $15,000 surety bond Thursday and is scheduled to return to court May 21. An attorney is not listed on Wide’s online case overview.