Two Durango men have been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on a child under the age of 15.
Miles Nakai, 22, and Louis Denver Smith, 23, were each being held Tuesday at the La Plata County Jail on $250,000 bail.
The men are suspected of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl who is an acquaintance to both men, said Detective Sgt. Deck Shaline, with the Durango Police Department.
In addition to engaging in sexual activity with a minor, Nakai is suspected of providing alcohol and marijuana to the child and using Internet-based technology to lure her, according to an arrest affidavit.
The sexual activity occurred in late summer and fall of 2016, Shaline said.
According to the heavily redacted affidavit, Nakai provided the girl with beer, vodka and marijuana on several occasions at the Durango Skate Park, 1300 Avenida del Sol. He offered her a place to sleep off the buzz, but also used the occasion to engage in sexual activity. On another occasion, he went to her house to serve her alcohol and sleep over.
Nakai and the girl exchanged several messages via Facebook Messenger, including one in which Nakai asks the girl to keep their relationship private.
“Hey would you mind not letting people know we chill and stuff. Just cause of the age difference,” one of the messages reads, according to the affidavit.
shane@durangoherald.com
