BATTLE MOUNTAIN - Prasantkumar "Peter" Bhakta, 49, who was arrested Aug. 5 for alleged attempted sexual assault died in Reno Oct. 26. His attorney, Hy Forgeron, said his death was a result of natural causes.
Services were held Oct. 28 at the LDS Church.
Bhakta was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies at State Route 305 for alleged attempted sexual assault, a felony, open/gross lewdness, first, a gross misdemeanor, battery to commit sexual assault, a felony, and false imprisonment, a gross misdemeanor, according to Lander County Sheriff Ron Unger.
No official charges were filed by the district attorney's office. There was never a criminal case pending against him, Forgeron said. He added that a document called a Suggestion of Death on the Record will be filed to notify the judge of Bhakta's passing.
"That simply ends it," Forgeron said. "There is nothing further to do."
Forgeron said it was a shame that Bhakta would not have a chance to prove his innocence.
"My office thoroughly investigated the allegations against Peter, including hiring a private detective, and based on the statements of all the witnesses and the physical evidence we developed, I am confident that even if any charges were brought against Peter, we would have been able to have them rapidly dismissed," Forgeron said. "It's a shame that a good man has passed away prematurely without the chance to clear his good name."
The alleged crimes took place over several months and involved a woman in her late 30s, Unger said. He added that he could not release further information on the case.
According to Big Chief Motel Manager Kim Bhakta in August, Peter Bhakta was not the owner or manager of the motel and did not work there. She said he had no affiliation with it whatsoever.
Contact Heather Hill at h.hill@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
