A Las Vegas judge reduced bail Wednesday for a special education teacher facing a slew of child sexual abuse charges.
Chief District Judge Jerry Wiese set bail for Douglas Trinkle, 53, at $1 million last week after the Boulder City man was indicted on 46 counts, including sexual assault of a child, lewdness with a child and child abuse, neglect or endangerment.
On Wednesday, District Judge Jessica Peterson reset bail to $250,000 after hearing arguments from attorneys. She ordered conditions including high-level electronic monitoring and that he stay away from the victim and children.
Trinkle previously faced a count of lewdness with a child and a count of statutory sexual seduction in Boulder City Justice Court.
He is accused of repeatedly fondling and raping a teenage girl beginning in 2022 and continuing through March. He pleaded not guilty at the hearing before Peterson.
Peterson said she needed to consider the increased severity of the charges, ensure that Trinkle would show up to court and protect the victim without imposing excessive bail.
“We requested $1 million bail because we felt that was the appropriate bail given the factors: the safety to the community and the flight risk of him,” Deputy District Attorney Michael Allmon said after court, adding that he still felt $1 million was justified.
Defense attorney Joel Mann declined to comment following the hearing.
Mann asked for a bail reduction after Wiese’s decision, complaining in court papers that Wiese ordered the “staggering” bail amount at a hearing where he was not present.
Wiese made his order at a grand jury indictment return. Those hearings do not typically include defense attorneys.
Mann argued that Trinkle’s bail should be reset to the original amount of $75,000, which a Boulder City judge previously ordered.
Peterson said she thought $325,000 bail would be appropriate, but reduced that amount by $75,000 because Trinkle lost the money he previously posted when Wiese exonerated the earlier bond, resulting in the $250,000 she ordered.
“Under Nevada law, Mr. Trinkle should be afforded a reasonable bail based on his lack of significant criminal history and his significant ties to his community,” wrote Mann.
The attorney said Trinkle spent months out of custody without issue and did not pose a flight risk. He argued $1 million bail was inappropriately punitive.
Allmon argued that Trinkle was a danger to the community and a flight risk.
He said in a filing that Trinkle was likely to be convicted based on DNA evidence.
“Defendant is now charged with substantially more serious crimes with substantially stronger evidence—establishing even more than before that he is a danger to the community,” wrote the prosecutor, adding that Trinkle could spend the rest of his life in prison.
State records show that Trinkle has taught in the Clark County School District since 2012 and was most recently assigned to Cimarron-Memorial High School. He has also worked at Sierra Vista High School, Cheyenne High School and Variety Elementary.
Boulder City Police Chief Timothy Shea previously said “the incident is not connected” with Trinkle’s employment.
Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com.
