A man in Las Vegas has been arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a child and coercing them into engaging in sexual activities with other children. Joshua Aja, 39, is facing 22 charges, including lewdness with a child and sexual assault against a child, as revealed in documents obtained by 8 News Now Investigators.
The alleged incidents came to light in October when a child under the age of 10 disclosed to an adult that she had been forced to perform oral sex on Aja. Shockingly, the child sought help from Aja but was instead subjected to further abuse, with Aja allegedly forcing her to perform oral sex on him from 2020 until 2023. The situation escalated when Aja began involving two other children in the assaults, making the victim perform oral sex on both boys, according to police statements.
To further intimidate the child, Aja allegedly threatened to post explicit pictures and videos of her on Facebook, which he had taken during the assaults. During an interview, the victim disclosed multiple incidents of sexual abuse to an official, confirming the horrifying ordeal.
Aja’s alleged crimes did not stop with one victim. He reportedly coerced other children into participating in the assaults while he watched. One child revealed that Aja had instructed him to keep their actions a secret. Another child disclosed that Aja would force him into the bedroom by threatening to spank him, using his cell phone to monitor the front door.
The assaults reportedly ceased in May, according to the police. While the exact relationship between Aja and the children remains undisclosed, all of the victims were acquainted with him.
Upon contacting Aja on November 1, the police requested an interview. Aja agreed to come in, but during the interview, he claimed that the accusations must have come from someone else, alleging that he had been falsely accused of sexually abusing another individual. The police did not disclose the nature of the allegations or the identities of the victims prior to the interview.
Aja vehemently denied the charges, insisting that he loved the children and would never harm them. However, he later admitted that the incidents had occurred once, stating that one of the children had seen him naked in his chair and touched his genitals with their hand. Aja expressed remorse, claiming that he wanted to end his life immediately after the incident.
During Aja’s initial appearance in court on November 5, Judge Amy Ferreira denied bail. Aja remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 11.
For those in need of help, the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-4673, offering assistance 24/7. To report a crime anonymously, individuals can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit crimestoppersofnv.com. Stay updated with the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video by visiting KLAS.
