Elvis impersonator Carlini jailed in Vegas

Famed Elvis impersonator Trent Carlini has been doing the "Jailhouse Rock" at the Clark County jail.

Carlini, 48, was arrested late Wednesday before going on stage at the Las Vegas Hilton on a bench warrant for failing to make child support payments. His $50-a-pop show in the Shimmer Cabaret was canceled, and fans were given refunds after he was carted off to jail.

Authorities have long warned The King of Sin City's faux Elvi that he needed to get his mojo working and pay up, but they decided it was time for a little less conversation and a little more action after he failed to make a Sept. 15 hearing in Family Court.

Deputy District Attorney Shannon Russell said the warrant covered two months of $3,000 child support payments. As of May 31, Russell said, Carlini was $76,037 behind.

Bench warrants were issued for Carlini in October 2009 and again in June but were withdrawn without an arrest, Russell said.

The June warrant was quashed after Carlini made an $8,000 payment, but he hasn't made his monthly $3,000 payments since then, Russell said.

Carlini, who has four children, might still be singing "Viva Las Vegas" had he paid as little as $1,000 under a special court program before the Sept. 15 hearing.

But Carlini's money didn't get there until the next day, too late for authorities to mark the arrest warrant "return to sender."

Rick White, vice president of entertainment at the Hilton, said the hotel canceled Thursday night's 7 p.m. show, but expected Carlini would take the stage tonight.

As of 7 p.m. Thursday, Carlini, booked under his legal name of Robert Trentacarlini, was still behind bars and asking authorities to "please release me."

In June, Carlini told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he's no devil in disguise. He said he's a loving parent and an entertainer struggling to make ends meet.

"I'm not Elvis," he said. "I'm an Elvis impersonator."

Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135 or read more courts coverage at lvlegalnews.com.