Alleged victim considered cashing in on video

Kim Smith

Tuesday, June 4, 2002 | 8:22 a.m.

A Las Vegas prostitute who claims she was sexually assaulted by a man police describe as a serial rapist acknowledged Monday that she considered capitalizing on the videotape made during the alleged assault.

The 26-year-old woman testified that when Steven Newberg said he planned to profit from the videotape by placing it on the Internet, she briefly considered splitting the proceeds with Newberg.

The woman said that "what had happened had already happened," so she told Newberg she would call him to discuss a business arrangement.

Police believe Newberg, 37, sexually assaulted dozens of women in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and videotaped the acts. Five of the alleged victims have been identified -- two Las Vegas prostitutes, a 14-year-old distant relative of Newberg's and two California women who have not yet been found by police.

Newberg's attorneys have said the women consented to sex.

Monday was the second of three hearings that will be held to determine if there is enough evidence to try Newberg on more than two dozen sex-related counts pertaining to the Las Vegas victims.

Newberg was arrested and hundreds of videotapes seized in March after his former girlfriend reported her suspicions.

The prostitute who testified Monday said Newberg picked her up in front a downtown hotel last November and promised her $100 if she would allow him to take pictures of her.

"I was excited. He was going to give me $100 and all he wants is to take pictures," the woman recalled thinking.

Once they arrived at an unfinished construction site, the woman said Newberg forced her to perform three sex acts at knifepoint.

Afterward, she said, Newberg gave her his phone number and she promised to call him about the video.

The woman said she didn't report the sexual assault until a detective contacted by Newberg's former girlfriend called her.

"Who was going to take me seriously? I was a prostitute on crack," she said.