Bail $1.22M for Saudi sergeant in Vegas rape case

The Daily Star, Ken Ritter, AP, January 18, 2013 

Mazen Alotaibi appears in Las Vegas Justice Court for a hearing at the
Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. Alotaibi
faces kidnapping, sexual assault with a minor and felony coercion charges
(AP Photo by Leila Navidi/Las Vegas Sun)

                             

LAS VEGAS: A judge set bail at $1.22 million for a 23-year-old Saudi Arabia air force sergeant jailed on New Year's Eve after he was accused of raping a 13-year-old boy in a Las Vegas Strip hotel room.

Defense attorney Don Chairez says he believes police unfairly questioned Mazen Alotaibi while he was drunk after the alleged Dec. 31 attack at the Circus Circus hotel.

Alotaibi said nothing in court. Chairez says he'll plead not guilty.

Chairez says he'll recommend Alotaibi remain in jail until an evidence hearing Jan. 31.

Prosecutors added two lewdness with a minor charges to kidnapping, sexual assault, felony coercion and burglary counts that could get Alotaibi decades in state prison.

Alotaibi has been stationed at U.S. air bases in Texas and Mississippi.

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