Ibeabuchi jurors likely to hear about past incidents

Bill Gang

Friday, Dec. 10, 1999 | 9:16 a.m.

The District Court jury that will decide guilt or innocence of heavyweight boxer Ikemufula "Ike" Ibeabuchi on charges he sexually assaulted an outcall entertainer likely will get to hear about two other similar incidents.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure ruled Thursday that the stories involving incidents in Las Vegas and Arizona are admissible evidence, but he declared that two other incidents of alleged sexual misconduct by Ibeabuchi will not be allowed.

The circumstances of those, the judge ruled, are not similar enough to the criminal case to justify presenting the facts before a jury.

One involved a 16-year-old girl who Ibeabuchi is said to have lured to a hotel room for what Deputy District Attorney Mary Kay Holthus alleged was going to be a sexual encounter or attack. That potential scenario was thwarted because a hotel housekeeper was in the room and the teen-ager decided she was going to leave the hotel.

The second involved a woman Ibeabuchi met on an airplane and is said to have attacked, although they previously had a romantic relationship, Holthus indicated.

The incidents that likely will become evidence include a Dec. 23, 1998, encounter with an outcall entertainer from the firm "Room Service," who Holthus alleged had been sexually assaulted and then held down by Ibeabuchi when she protested.

The other instance involved an Arizona outcall entertainer who stated that Ibeabuchi forced himself on her despite being told that sex was not part of the service.

Despite the stories and allegations, no charges were filed in those cases.

Before Bonaventure makes a final determination if the jury will learn of the incidents, he said he will hold a hearing and let the women testify. If he rules the witnesses are credible and the stories are relevant and legally admissible, they will get a chance to repeat the tales at Ibeabuchi's trial.

No date has been set for the hearing.

Ibeabuchi, who is free on $750,000 bail and scheduled to stand trial on Feb. 22, came to court in a gray sweat suit.

As part of Ibeabuchi's release on bail, Bonaventure mandated that he remain in Las Vegas on house arrest, surrender his passport and have no contact with outcall entertainment services.

The judge noted in court Thursday that Ibeabuchi has complied with those requirements and there have been no reports of problems.

In the sexual assault case, Ibeabuchi is alleged to have lured the 6-foot, 21-year-old victim to his Mirage hotel room in the early morning hours of July 22 but wouldn't pay the $150 minimum fee for an erotic dance.

Instead, the woman from Oceanside, Calif., testified at a preliminary hearing, the boxer grabbed her and dragged her into a closet where he began to sexually assault her.

She was rescued when hotel security came into the room, apparently alerted by her screams for help.

In addition to the sex counts, there are additional charges alleging Ibeabuchi attacked a corrections officer at the Clark County Detention Center.