Boxer pleads not guilty to charges

Bill Gang

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999 | 10:20 a.m.

After prominent defense attorney Richard Wright formally agreed to represent him, heavyweight contender Ikemufula "Ike" Ibeabuchi pleaded not guilty to charges he sexually assaulted an outcall entertainer in his Strip hotel room.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on Monday set a Dec. 6 trial for the boxer, who is ranked in the International Boxing Federation's top 10.

But while the case is headed for a trial, Ibeabuchi will remain in jail in lieu of $3 million bail that was set by Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti after a preliminary hearing two weeks ago over the July incident at the Mirage hotel-casino.

Togliatti cited the fighter's potential danger to the community as the reason he would likely ignore her court orders if he were allowed his freedom until a District Court trial.

It is expected, however, that Wright will file court documents seeking to lower that bail figure and win Ibeabuchi the freedom that would allow his boxing career to continue.

At Monday's arraignment the judge was told that in addition to Wright, Ibeabuchi also will be represented by a New York lawyer -- although formal permission for that has not been obtained.

Along with the four sexual assault charges -- which carry mandatory life prison terms and no parole until at least five years has been served -- Ibeabuchi also has been charged with pushing a corrections officer at the Clark County Detention Center.

Before he made Monday's appearance before Bonaventure, Ibeabuchi was arraigned in Justice Court on a felony count of battery on a prisoner and on two gross misdemeanor counts of assault on a peace officer.

Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo set a Sept. 27 preliminary hearing on those charges.

Deputy District Attorney Mary Kay Holthus has alleged the boxer pushed one corrections officer at the Clark County Detention Center into a wall and tried to bite two others.

There also were uncharged incidents in Arizona similar to those in Nevada that played a role in the high bail setting.

The victim in the Mirage case, a 21-year-old from Oceanside, Calif., had testified that Ibeabuchi lured her to his hotel room in the early morning hours of July 22 but wouldn't pay the $150 minimum fee for an erotic dance.

Instead, she told Togliatti, the boxer assaulted her.