Saudi facing sex assault charges wants words to police kept out
The defense lawyer for a Royal Saudi Air Force sergeant charged with raping a 13-year-old boy is hoping to have the man's statement to police suppressed because his client was drunk and did not understand his right to remain silent.
At a hearing Thursday, Clark County prosecutors added two more charges against Mazen Alotaibi, who now faces nine charges, including two counts of sexual assault with a minor under 14 and one count of kidnapping.
If convicted, he could face 35 years to life in prison.
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace William Kephart raised Alotaibi's bail to $1.7 million because of the new charges.
Alotaibi's lawyer, Don Chairez, then waived his client's right to a preliminary hearing where prosecutors would have had to show they had enough evidence to take the case to trial.
The move will allow Chairez to file motions to quash his client's statement to investigators.
According to a Las Vegas police report, Alotaibi said he offered the boy money for sex, and when he refused, he raped the boy. The assault occurred in the bathroom of a Circus Circus hotel room on New Year's Eve.
Alotaibi appeared in court dressed in navy blue jail scrubs with his hands and legs shackled. A woman translated the hearing to him, though he appeared to understand what Kephart was saying before it was fully translated.
A member of the Saudi Arabia Consulate based in Los Angeles attended Thursday's hearing.
Chairez has said there was more to what happened than what authorities have released, including that the victim was trying to buy marijuana from Alotaibi and other Saudi military members visiting Las Vegas.
Chairez said he is trying to obtain evidence from prosecutors including what his client's blood alcohol level was when he was arrested and interviewed by police, with surveillance video from Circus Circus.
Prosecutor Jim Sweetin said the two new charges against Alotaibi of open and gross lewdness were added after a further review of evidence of the case.
If Alotaibi is able to post bail, he must surrender his passport and remain in the United States.
The United States has no extradition treaty with Saudi Arabia.
Alotaibi is set to be arraigned in District Court on Wednesday.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
