Trial set in sexual misconduct case against probation officer

A trial has been set early next year for a former Carson City Alternative Sentencing officer charged with molesting women while on duty.

Aaron Lewis, 36, appeared in Carson City District Court on Thursday before Senior Judge Deborah Agosti. Attorneys expect the trial to last two weeks from its scheduled Feb. 21 start date.

Lewis is charged with 22 counts including include sexual misconduct by a public officer, open and gross lewdness, and coercion using physical force.

According to court documents, Lewis was an officer with the Carson City Department of Alternative Sentencing when he allegedly forced the women, most of whom he was supervising for drug arrests, to expose their genitals to him under threat of arrest and purportedly to look for drugs. He allegedly molested the women at their homes, in his vehicle and at the courthouse after hours, sometimes while others - including children, parents and other officers - were nearby, but not in sight of the activities.

He was initially was charged with molesting seven women between November 2009 and September 2010. But when one of the accusers couldn't be located for the preliminary hearing, the Nevada Attorney General's Office dismissed three counts.

One of Lewis' accusers, Melissa Mulder, 21, filed a civil lawsuit against Lewis in October. Criminal charges were filed in March. He resigned his position in April.

He remains free on bail.