Man pleads not guilty in sex case

A convicted sex offender appeared before a federal judge in Las Vegas on Friday after authorities accused him of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl.

Darryl Walizer, 42, of Las Vegas was indicted Tuesday on one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of commission of a felony sex offense by an individual required to register as a sex offender.

Walizer pleaded not guilty during his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.

The defendant is accused of using the Internet to solicit an undercover detective for sex. The detective, who works for a Texas police department, was posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Koppe said Walizer believed the girl was flying to Las Vegas to visit her uncle. He was arrested March 12 when he went to McCarran International Airport to meet her.

Authorities said Walizer has a 2005 conviction in Virginia for soliciting a juvenile and a 2004 conviction in Ohio for importuning. Koppe said the Ohio conviction stemmed from an 18-month relationship with a minor.

Leen ordered Walizer to remain in custody until his trial, which is scheduled for May 18.