Vegas ‘Down Under’ suspect disputes allegations

The man facing charges of trying to steal underwear and costumes from the burly male dancers of “Thunder From Down Under” said he never tried to rob anybody.

Joey Kadmiri, a self-admitted methamphetamine user who also suffers from mental health issues, told the Review-Journal during a jailhouse phone call that, “I got attacked. Brutally attacked. Only to survive to fight for my life again. There was no robbery. I did not rob nobody.”

Kadmiri explained that he was dared by friends attending a March 18 show of the Australian-themed male revue at the Excalibur to crash the stage and perform his own dance. But he was found out by cast members backstage who attacked him for “hours” or “30-minutes,” said Kadmiri, who admitted he was intoxicated on methamphetamine that day. He would not name the friends who issued him the dare.

Kadmiri, who is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on $500,000 bail, said he has been plagued by headaches since he was beaten. He suffered facial bruising and a black eye after he was pummeled by several dancers. Evidence in the case suggests he also suffered a “wedgie,” when the black thong he was wearing — which he is accused of stealing — was stretched from his buttocks up over his shoulder.

Kadmiri denies he stole the thong. “The clothes were actually mine,” he said.

During an erratic interview, Kadmiri said the beating only ended after he fired a handgun, which authorities described as a .44-caliber magnum. The single shot didn’t strike anyone, but powder burns injured one cast member.

There might be evidence to support his claim.

Kadmiri said 911 calls made by two tourists staying in rooms at Excalibur support his version of what happened.

The calls, on recordings obtained by the Review-Journal, were made by two people staying on the 18th and 22nd floors of the resort who could view the backstage of “Thunder from down Under.”

The tourists both said they saw a man being beat up and then heard a gunshot. They said the backstage area was dark.

They said that after hearing the gunshot they saw a man on the ground who they believed had been shot.

One tourist, a Canadian man on the 22nd floor, said, “I’ve seen some guys beating up … (unclear) some loud talking and these guys were beating this guy up. Then I heard a loud bang.”

A woman, who was staying on the 18th floor, described a similar scene. “I saw some people fighting and I heard a gunshot,” she said.

Prosecutors believe Kadmiri sneaked backstage and rifled through the performers’ dressing room before being confronted by dancers. Kadmiri then became violent, pulled out a gun and fired a shot during a scuffle, prosecutors said.

Kadmiri was found wearing two pairs of underwear — teal boxer briefs and a black thong — that belonged to the dancers, prosecutors said.

Authorities also found 2.1 grams of methamphetamine on the defendant.

Kadmiri’s lawyer Joshua Tomsheck suggested that the items Kadmiri was carrying around were not stolen. Kadmiri was wearing a Sydney Fire Department shirt the dancers wear, but can also be purchased in a gift shop.

Prosecutor Jeff Rogan declined to comment on the 911 tapes but said a jury will come to its own conclusion after hearing all of the evidence in the case.

Tomsheck maintained that there is more to the case than appears. “This is a classic example of ‘some things are not as they seem.’”

The defense lawyer added that “the facts of what happened, as well as the explanation for those facts, will be fully brought to light when this matter is presented in its entirety to a jury. The only thing we can ask is that all judgment is reserved until a full picture of what occurred is shown.”

On Thursday, Kadmiri spent part of his 25th birthday shackled and dressed in navy blue jail scrubs inside District Judge Jerry Tao’s courtroom when he was given a new trial date of Sept. 2.

Kadmiri’s first trial ended in a mistrial earlier this month after one juror said he watched a television news report on the case and admitted that some jurors had discussed parts of the case prior to deliberation, which is not allowed. He has invoked his right to a speedy trial in this case and a second domestic violence case where he also faces felony charges.

Kadmiri faces several charges, including robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary, battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, and possession of a controlled substance. He faces dozens of years in prison if he’s convicted.

Contact Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512. Find him on Twitter: @fjmccabe.