Saudi man charged with rape at Circus Circus held on $1.2 million bail

A Las Vegas judge Friday set
$1.2 million bail for a Royal Saudi Air Force sergeant charged with raping a 13-year-old boy in a Strip hotel room on New Year's Eve.

Mazen Alotaibi, who is being held at the Clark County Detention Center, faces seven charges, including two counts of sexual assault with a minor under 14 and one count of kidnapping. If convicted, Alotaibi could face 35 years to life in prison.

Alotaibi appeared in court dressed in navy blue jail scrubs with his hands and legs shackled. A woman translated to him what was said during the hearing.

Justice of the Peace William Kephart said 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.

"(These) actions, if true, are appalling," Kephart said.

Prosecutors were asking for at least $1 million bail.

Alotaibi's lawyer, Don Chairez, had asked for less than $100,000 in bail on the seven charges.

After the hearing, Chairez 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.

"The child even offered to sell himself for sex," Chairez said. "To me this is not a forcible rape. This is a situation where, at most, this kid tried to sell himself to try and get money off of these guys."

Chairez said the Saudi government is supporting the sergeant, and he could make the $1.2 million bail. Chairez said he planned on recommending using that money toward investigating the case and defending Alotaibi and not toward the bond.

According to a Las Vegas police report, the sexual assault occurred in the bathroom of a Circus Circus hotel room.

Alotaibi told police he offered the boy money for sex, and when he refused, he raped the boy, the report said.

Chairez said his client was drunk when he spoke with police.

A preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 31, where Kephart will decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send the case to trial.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.