Nye County Assistant Sheriff Rick Marshall explained that it took a combination of four elements coming together to finally establish a SART team in Nye County: "We needed people, money, commitment and time. This opens up even more avenues for federal and state funds. It's a tremendous opportunity."

As for victims of assaults, Marshall said, "We've had many victims refuse to go with us for the two-hour ride to Las Vegas and back. To date, the system essentially traumatizes the victims a second time after they've already been victimized.

"As word gets out that we have the ability to do our examinations locally, we should get a lot better response from victims," said Marshall.

"We have given the team extensive training. Our nurse examiners operate under a doctor. Currently, that funding is through No To Abuse."

Marshall is quick to point out that the evidence can just as easily disprove a false rape claim as it can verify it.

"We now have the equipment for documenting bruising, lacerations, tears and can get microscopic evidence like talcum powder off a condom," explained Marshall. "We can find things not visible to the naked eye."

Marshall also said finding a single hair or even saliva is an important indication of what might have transpired. "We can also gather touch DNA, which means we can find DNA from a touch anywhere on a body," he said. It's all because evidence can be gathered hours earlier than was previously possible.

Marshall credits No To Abuse Executive Director Clelia Pinza Garrity as the driving force who pulled the project together. "Clelia took things that had been in the works for years and got it organized into a cohesive project. In the future, we might go after funds for a dedicated investigator out of our own training budget."