Case status
Charges
Luna and Benes: Second-degree felony murder; involuntary manslaughter; inhumanity to a prisoner; neglect of duty resulting in death; unauthorized surreptitious listening; conspiracy to commit unauthorized surreptitious listening. Helgerson: Conspiracy to commit unauthorized surreptitious listening (gross misdemeanor).
Bond
Not yet public. Bond status after the amended charges has not been confirmed.
Case number
Not yet public
Next court date
All three are scheduled to appear in Pahrump Justice Court in November
Status
Charged. No conviction. Luna and Benes are on administrative leave.

Pahrump, Nevada · Charges filed Oct. 28, 2026 · Pahrump Justice Court

What the record confirms

Stevie Miller, 30, of Pahrump, died on June 10, 2026, after she was found unresponsive in her cell at the Nye County Detention Center, according to the Nye County Sheriff's Office. She was pronounced dead at Desert View Hospital.

The sheriff's office says Miller was arrested June 9 after a high-speed pursuit on Highway 160 that ended in a crash involving other vehicles, and that she ran from the scene on foot. Deputies said she appeared uninjured but under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She was taken to Desert View Hospital for a blood draw and then booked into the jail.

Miller appeared in Pahrump Justice Court on June 10 and was found unresponsive in her cell later that day, the sheriff's office said. The Las Vegas Review-Journal and News 3 report that the coroner ruled her death an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and methamphetamine.

In August, deputies Carlos Luna and Kyle Benes surrendered on arrest warrants and were charged with inhumanity to a prisoner, neglect of duty resulting in death and involuntary manslaughter, according to the sheriff's office and booking records reported by KTNV.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, a special prosecutor filed a criminal complaint charging Luna and Benes with second-degree felony murder, involuntary manslaughter, inhumanity to a prisoner, neglect of duty resulting in death, unauthorized surreptitious listening and conspiracy, the Review-Journal and FOX5 report.

The sheriff's office announced Oct. 29 that a third deputy, Christopher Helgerson, has been charged with a gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit unauthorized surreptitious listening. The sheriff's office has not said what Helgerson is accused of doing.

What court documents allege

According to court documents cited by the Review-Journal and News 3, jail staff had been instructed to send Miller back to the hospital if she began vomiting.

Investigators allege Miller vomited for hours and struggled to get up, and that no deputy called for medical help, according to the affidavits as reported by both outlets.

These are allegations. None of the three deputies has been convicted, and each is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Highlighted excerpt

Nye County Sheriff's Office statement, Oct. 29, 2026: "The Nye County Sheriff's Office recognizes the seriousness of this matter and will continue to comply with applicable legal requirements as the criminal proceedings and internal review move forward."

What the defense says

Luna's attorney, Jack Buchanan, told the Review-Journal that Luna is innocent and that he plans to vigorously defend him in court.

No attorney for Benes or Helgerson has been identified in public reports, and no statement from either has been found.

What isn't public yet

The full criminal complaint and the affidavit for the Helgerson charge have not been posted publicly. News 3 reported it requested the documents but the court was closed Friday.

No plea has been entered on the new charges. Bond status after the amended charges has not been confirmed.

The sheriff's office says its internal investigation is still underway and has not released its findings.

Sources

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