Teen charged as an adult in sexual assaults

Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000 | 11:51 a.m.

A 17-year-old charged with sexually assaulting six women after breaking into their downtown homes has been identified as Justin D. Porter, a former student at three Las Vegas high schools.

Porter has been charged as an adult in 29 felonies. He also is being investigated by Metro Police in the June 10 shooting death of 31-year-old former monk Gyaltso Lungtok.

Porter is awaiting extradition from Chicago, where he was arrested while visiting relatives.

The first reported assault occurred Feb. 1 when a man broke into a woman's apartment where he raped her while threatening her with a knife, according to court documents.

The last sexual assault for which Porter is being charged came June 7. Metro Police continue to investigate a link between Porter and Lungtok's slaying, which occurred three days later.

Porter is being charged automatically as an adult in all of the sexual assaults and related charges because he had been convicted previously of a felony in Illinois, Chief Deputy District Attorney Ronald Bloxham said.

Bloxham declined to provide details on the previous conviction.

Porter was arrested by Chicago police early Saturday morning and is expected to be handed over to Las Vegas officials for extradition within the next few weeks.

Las Vegas police say they linked Porter to the attacks based on physical evidence recovered at the crime scenes.