Judge orders remote appearances for Israeli official in child luring case

An Israeli official accused of trying to lure a child for sex while on a visit to Nevada missed his arraignment in Henderson on Wednesday, prompting a judge to require future appearances by video.

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, who returned home immediately after posting $10,000 bail, was scheduled to appear before a judge to hear the formal charge, his rights, and release recommendations. Instead, his attorney, David Chesnoff, appeared on his behalf and told Justice of the Peace Barbara Schifalacqua that prosecutors had agreed to waive Alexandrovich’s attendance.

“The state and I had an agreement, and we informed your staff that he would not be here. I did not know the protocol that the court has,” Chesnoff said. “I’m in constant contact with [Alexandrovich]. I can show you my phone. Just this morning, I instructed him that he didn’t have to be here, because normally, that’s the practice that we’ve employed for the 45 years I’ve been doing this.”

The judge noted that the district attorney’s office does not have the authority to waive felony arraignment appearances. Schifalacqua said that because Alexandrovich is out on bail, he is required by Nevada State law to make every court appearance.

“Your oral request without anything before the court, to waive his appearance here today, is hereby denied,” Schifalacqua stated. She later granted his request to allow Alexandrovich to participate by Zoom.

Alexandrovich’s rapid release and departure from the U.S. have sparked controversy. Online critics accused the government of intervening on behalf of the state of Israel, which the U.S. State Department denied. Meanwhile, Nevada acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah, in an X post, blamed the Clark County district attorney’s office and state judges for not requiring Alexandrovich to surrender his passport.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has denied allegations that the defendant received special treatment, describing Alexandrovich’s bail as “standard” or pre-set by the court. Under the standard bail procedure, an arrestee can post bond straight away and be released without conditions, Wolfson explained.

Chesnoff echoed similar sentiments. He previously told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that his client was “treated just as anybody would be who got arrested.”

The Wednesday hearing was continued a week, when Schifalacqua said she could reset Alexandrovich’s release conditions.

The judge noted that, at a minimum, she would like Alexandrovich to have no contact with minors and to refrain from using dating or “meet-up” websites. She mentioned electronic monitoring but admitted she was uncertain about that measure.

Chesnoff also stated during the hearing that he planned to present his own recommendations to the court, “in light of Alexandrovich’s individualized circumstances.”

In a statement issued after court, Chesnoff wrote, “Mr. Alexandrovich will appear by Zoom as permitted by the court at his next appearance. He intends to pursue all his lawful rights and to vigorously defend this case in court and not in the media.”

Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.