On September 22, 2026, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office K9 deputies assigned to the Northern Nevada Interdiction Task Force (NNITF) conducted a traffic stop on eastbound I-80 near Mogul.
During the stop, deputies contacted the driver, an adult male, and a 13-year-old female passenger. During the on-scene investigation, deputies determined the juvenile had been entered as a missing person out of California.
Further investigation determined the driver, identified as 20-year-old Christian Tellez, had transported the juvenile from California into Nevada and was traveling toward Utah.
Tellez was taken into custody and transported to the Washoe County Detention Facility, where he was booked on charges including felony First Degree Kidnapping of a Minor, Driving with a Revoked Driver’s License and Operator Proof of Insurance Required.
“What began as a traffic stop quickly developed into a significantly more serious investigation,” said Sheriff Darin Balaam. “Our deputies recognized the circumstances they were dealing with and took the necessary steps to get this 13-year-old girl to safety. I am grateful for their diligence and, most importantly, that this young girl was safely recovered before she was taken any farther from home.”
This remains an active and ongoing investigation.
