Las Vegas man declared legal father of brother he suspects is his biological son, judge rules

A Las Vegas man who says he was raped by his mother as a child has been declared the legal father of his 16-year-old brother, whom he suspects may be his biological son, by a Nevada Family Court. Logan Gifford, 26, told the court that he believes his younger sibling may be his child conceived during years of abuse, and he has sought clarification of paternity through genetic testing that would determine whether he is the father.

In ruling issued Wednesday, Family Court Judge Vincent Ochoa said the DNA testing showed a 99.9 percent match to the boy for both Logan and the boy’s presumed father, Theodore Gifford. The results did not yield a final determination between the two possible fathers. Theodore Gifford, Logan’s father, did not participate in the case, and the judge noted that he could not appoint him as father without his involvement. “I can’t make [Theodore] the father if he doesn’t want to participate,” the judge said. “I’m going to grant the default and declare Logan Gifford to be the legal father of the child. This is the only solution we have.” The boy is described as disabled, and the family has been living together, with Logan acting as a guardian as questions about paternity were unresolved.

Logan’s mother, Doreene Gifford, was charged with sexual assault of a minor and incest in connection with the abuse. She ultimately entered an Alford plea, maintaining innocence while acknowledging prosecutors had sufficient evidence for a conviction on lesser charges. She is a registered sex offender on parole and living in Massachusetts. In the hearing, she said she never doubted that Theodore was the father but indicated she could not continue the case; she asked that it be conceded and that the ongoing process end. Logan’s attorney, Timothy Treffinger, explained that further DNA testing would be pointless because the lab indicated there were no additional confirmatory tests available.

After the ruling, Logan told reporters that he was ready to move forward. “Clearly, we got the answer that we were anticipating,” he said. “Finally, there was closure, not only for me, as a male survivor, but also closure for someone who didn’t ask for any of this.” He noted that the decision brings him a sense of resolution, even as the case remains emotionally complex for those involved. He added that he wanted to prevent a public narrative from overshadowing the family’s welfare and that he hoped the decision would allow them to focus on the boy’s needs and care.

The case has a long history. Logan first disclosed the abuse at age 16, saying his mother had sexually assaulted him since he was 10 years old. He has described a period when he became the boy’s guardian after his father stopped caring, and he has spoken publicly about the burdens of caring for a sibling who is disabled. The court’s decision centers on guardianship and custody rather than prosecutorial outcomes, with the aim of ensuring the boy’s welfare while addressing paternity questions that have persisted for years. The legal determination does not alter the underlying criminal history of the mother, who faced separate charges related to the abuse.

The judge’s ruling highlights the limits of genetic testing in cases where one potential parent refuses to participate, and it underscores the court’s obligation to safeguard a vulnerable youth when paternity cannot be conclusively established through standard testing. While the determination may settle questions of parental status for now, the case continues to be a difficult and sensitive matter for all involved, particularly given the history of abuse and the trauma that has shaped the family’s dynamics for over a decade.