Chester Stiles

{{short description|American child rapist}}

{{Infobox criminal

| name = Chester Stiles

| image_name = Chester Stiles.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Mugshot of Stiles after his capture in 2007

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|09|14|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alias = "Chet"

| conviction = *Lewdness with a child under the age of 14 (10 counts)

• Sexual assault with a minor under 14 (11 counts)
• Attempted sexual assault with a minor under 14

| conviction_penalty = 21 life sentences with the de jure possibility of parole after 140 years{{efn|Stiles will never be eligible for parole within his lifetime, as it is guaranteed he will be dead by his earliest release date.}}

| conviction_status = Incarcerated at Ely State Prison

| occupation =

| spouse =

| parents =

| children =

}}

Chester "Chet" Arthur Stiles (born September 14, 1970, in Louisville, Kentucky[http://www.wlky.com/news/14271568/detail.html?rss=lou&psp=news 10/4/07: Subject Of Nationwide Manhunt Has Local Ties - Louisville News Story - WLKY Louisville] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524133833/http://www.wlky.com/news/14271568/detail.html?rss=lou&psp=news |date=2011-05-24 }}) is an American criminal who gained notoriety after he appeared in video clips of himself raping and sexually abusing a girl who was three years old at the time. The video was made in 2003 but was discovered under a fallen sign in 2007 in Pahrump, Nevada.{{Cite web|title=The Nevada Independent - Your State. Your News. Your Voice.|url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/election/2020/judicial/nv-8/dept-23/jim-sweetin|access-date=2020-06-20|website=thenevadaindependent.com|language=en}} Both the FBI and the Las Vegas Police launched a nationwide manhunt which led to his capture.[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/child-rape-suspect-violent-survivalist/ Child Rape Suspect: Violent "Survivalist", Police Call Man Suspected Of Raping Girl On Tape As "Very Dangerous"; Hunt Continues - CBS News] Police released the video to the media, and the child's mother recognized her daughter; Stiles was living with them at the time the video was recorded. He was caught in Henderson, Nevada, and appeared in court on October 17, 2007.[http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/17/rape.tape/ Toddler rape suspect shuffles into court in chains - CNN.com] Further investigation showed Stiles had abused another young girl while living with her family.

On May 29, 2009, Stiles was sentenced to 21 life sentences on 21 counts with the possibility of parole in 140 years."[http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/19602218/detail.html Vegas Child Rapist Gets 140-Year Sentence] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530190019/http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/19602218/detail.html |date=May 30, 2009 }}," Fox 5 News (29 May 2009). The judge said that he showed no remorse in the hearing; Stiles responded to the sentence with the claim that his prosecution "shows a child's virtue is more important than a man's life." He continued, "I incurred 21 life sentences for a non-violent act ... I wish the truth was more important."Cara McCoy, "[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/29/convicted-child-molester-gets-multiple-life-senten/ Child molester gets multiple life sentences]," Las Vegas Sun (29 May 2009). As of 2015 his sentence was one of the world's longest.{{Cite web|last=Concepcion|first=Mackenzie|date=26 August 2015|title=Who is serving the world's longest prison sentences?|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/aurora-theater-trial/2015/08/26/who--serving--worlds-longest-prison-sentences/32438379/|access-date=2020-06-20|website=azcentral|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Once he got to the Nevada Department of Corrections, he was classified (Offender ID Number: 1036868) and placed in protective custody for his own safety from the prison's general population inmates.