Hansen Waives Preliminary Hearing in CSAM Case

Tracy Elizabeth Hansen, 38, who faces 29 felony counts involving the alleged distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), waived her preliminary hearing in New River Township Justice Court on Oct. 13. Her case is expected to be bound over to Churchill County District Court, where it will proceed before Tenth Judicial District Court Judge Thomas Stockard, or be set for a jury trial.

The preliminary hearing, scheduled for Oct. 14 before Judge Benjamin Trotter, was vacated following an Oct. 13 stipulated motion and court order.

Hansen was arrested March 26 in Fallon by Homeland Security on allegations of distributing CSAM online. She faces 29 counts of Promotion of Sexual Performance of a Minor, Category A felonies, each punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years and a fine of up to $100,000.

Investigators cited dozens of videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants, which Hansen allegedly shared with other users on Kik. The app allows users to communicate through usernames rather than sharing phone numbers. Its relative anonymity has made it a platform used in some cases involving the distribution of child sexual abuse material and online exploitation of minors.

Following her March 27 arraignment, Hansen was released on her own recognizance with several conditions, including no new criminal violations, restrictions on employment and prohibitions against visiting places where children gather or accessing pornographic or fetish websites.

Hansen was subsequently charged in Storey County with two counts of Theft of $100,000 or More, stemming from allegations that she diverted two $100,000 payments from Cal Nevada Precision Blasting to an unauthorized bank account. 

Hansen waived her preliminary hearing Oct. 13, and her case is expected to be bound over to Churchill County District Court.

On June 17, Trotter denied a prosecution motion to increase Hansen's bail and modify her release conditions. Hansen is no longer listed as being in custody on the Churchill County Sheriff's Office app.

The case is expected to proceed in District Court following the anticipated bindover.

Update: According to New River Township Justice Court Judge Benjamin Trotter, Hansen was never returned to Churchill County custody after her release on her own recognizance. Although the prosecution initially requested revocation of her release, the alleged Storey County offenses occurred before the Churchill County charges and therefore did not violate the condition of her release prohibiting new criminal violations.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Criminal charges are allegations, and defendants are entitled to due process and a fair trial under the law.