A Nevada teacher has been accused of sexually abusing a younger female relative and several other children.
Taji Hillson, 62, was taken into custody on July 2 and is currently being held at the Washoe County Jail.
She has been charged with one count of sexual assault of a child under 14, one count of sexual assault, and three counts of lewdness with a child under 14, according to public records.
Highlights
- Nevada teacher Taji Hillson, 62, accused of sexually abusing a young relative and at least a dozen other children, many relatives.
- Hillson admitted to drugging a victim with Benadryl to sedate and abuse her repeatedly from childhood through adulthood.
- Charges include sexual assault of a child under 14, multiple counts of lewdness, with a bail set at $5 million.
Taji Hillson allegedly sexually abused a young female relative and a dozen other children
Image credits: Taji Warren Hillson/Facebook
Her bail is set at $5 million.
On April 30, an adult relative of Hillson’s reported years of alleged abuse to the Reno Police Department.
She told officers that Hillson had sexually abused her throughout her childhood and adulthood.
She claimed that “she would feel sexual pleasure while sleeping and often wake up with [Hillson] hovering over her,” per the report obtained by the Reno Gazette Journal, NBC affiliate News 4, and News 8.
Image credits: Taji Warren Hillson/Facebook
The victim gave police a series of text messages in which Hillson allegedly admitted to “drugging her and touching her inappropriately,” according to court documents obtained by all three outlets.
A short time later, the woman gave police a letter from Hillson apologizing for the abuse. She said Hillson left the letter in her mailbox.
During a police interview on June 25, Hillson allegedly admitted to the abuse.
“The defendant admitted to giving her [the alleged victim] Benadryl to sedate her by sneaking it in her food,” then touching the girl while she slept, according to the police report.
Hillson told officers she did this repeatedly throughout the woman’s childhood and after she came back home from college in 2014.
Hilson confessed to drugging the girl while she slept
Image credits: Reno Police Department/Facebook
Hillson reportedly told police that she acted this way “as she never felt seen and desired to be close to another person.”
According to the police report, Hillson also admitted to touching a two-year-old neighbor inappropriately at a community pool in the last two years.
She further admitted to abusing at least a dozen other children in North Carolina, most of whom were also relatives, according to court documents.
Hillson was working as a substitute physical education teacher at Roy Gomm Elementary School in Reno. She had been employed there from September 2022 until June 13, 2025.
Officials confirmed that the victim filed her initial report while Hillson was still teaching at the school.
However, police said there was no evidence that any students were harmed during her time at the school.
On July 10, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hick released a statement confirming that charges had been filed.
Image credits: Google Maps
“The filing of these charges represents my unwavering commitment to protecting children in our community and to aggressively pursuing and incarcerating those who commit sexual crimes against them," he said in a statement.
“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing, and are currently involving two victims, one of whom is a toddler,” Hick continued.
“I commend the extraordinary courage of the adult victim who came forward to report this abuse; a brave act that has allowed us to seek justice and protect others from harm.”
Hillson’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 22.
The investigation is still ongoing and police have not ruled out the possibility of more victims coming forward.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, you can get help by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).