Christopher John Floyd, 36, of Pahrump was arrested Wednesday. He is being held on $2 million bail. Advertisement

Criminal charges were filed Wednesday by Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett against Christopher John Floyd, 39, a Pahrump resident who works for a local concrete company.

An arrest warrant was issued and Floyd was brought in to the Pahrump Jail by the Nye County Sheriff's Office at 5 p.m. the same day. He is being held on $2 million bail, issued by Judge Tina Brisbill.

Forty-seven counts of sexual assault against three underage male victims are alleged in the criminal complaint, which is the result of three months of work by the district attorney's office and many months of investigation by the sheriff's office.

"This is the most significant case of this nature I've encountered in my 14 years as a district attorney," stated Beckett, who said more victims had been identified in this ongoing investigation.

"The M.O. of the suspect was to give the boys gifts and then take them on trips," added Beckett. "We want to send a very strong message that there is zero tolerance for those who commit these types of crimes."

The victims include a 16-year-old identified only as 'John Doe,' who was allegedly abused since age 12. A total of 42 counts are chronicled in the criminal charges for the victim.

Over the period of four years, incidents are listed as occurring at residences in Pahrump and at the dry lake bed in Pahrump as well as at or near Cold Creek and the Mount Charleston area, Wallace Canyon, Wheeler Wash and Wheeler Pass, Carpenter Canyon, Dumont Dunes, Calif., and at Mesquite and Ely.

Locations in Utah include Panguitch, Pine Lake and, as recently as May 2008, at Pauite Reservoir. It is also alleged Floyd provided the boy with beer, whisky and chewing tobacco.

Floyd is additionally charged with attempted child abuse and neglect, attempted sexual assault and attempted lewdness with a minor under 14 and attempted solicitation to engage in acts constituting crimes against nature on a second victim, also unidentified, from the time the boy was 10 until he was 13.

Beckett said evidence points to Floyd giving the child "money, gift cards and guns for hunting trips, as part of a grooming process."

The third alleged victim, 21, died of an apparent overdose of medication.

"We are waiting for the autopsy to identify the actual cause of death," Beckett said. "He died four or five days prior to Aug. 12, after his interview with the sheriff's office. He told them 'Life has been hell, that's why I'm on medication -- to numb the pain.'"

Floyd is charged with child abuse and neglect, a category B felony, in connection with the death.