Newberg gets life in video sex case

Erica D. Johnson

Wednesday, April 23, 2003 | 8:34 a.m.

The Las Vegas man convicted of sexually assaulting his 14-year-old relative and videotaping it was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday.

Steven Newberg, 38, will be in his 70s before he is eligible for parole. District Judge Michael Cherry sentenced Newberg to life in prison on 13 felony charges, which included sexual assault of a minor under 16, use of a minor in producing pornography and open and gross lewdness.

He will be eligible for parole after 33 years.

"This is in essence a life sentence," Cherry said. "I doubt he'll be paroled the first time given the nature of the case."

Newberg appeared emotionless as the sentence was handed down, as did his mother, who was seated in the courtroom.

During the contentious hearing, prosecutors argued that Newberg deserved the maximum sentences on all counts, which would amount to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa Luzaich said the tape, which jurors viewed during the trial, spoke for itself. She said Newberg should "never see the light of day."

"The court heard her keep telling him 'no' and 'stop,' " she said. "It is clear from the tape that there was nothing consensual about these acts."

But Deputy Public Defender Steve Immerman, who maintained the teen was a willing participant in the sex acts, criticized the way prosecutors handled the case.

"This drama queen performance we just heard from the state represents a totally different reality," he said. "This 14-year-old knew exactly what she was doing."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Doug Herndon read a letter from the victim, who was unable to travel to Las Vegas for the sentencing.

She said she has suffered nightmares and bloody noses since the rape and that she is afraid to be alone.

"This has ruined my life," she wrote. "I hope he doesn't get out of jail so he can't do this to anyone else."

Cherry said he didn't think sex between Newberg and the teen was consensual, calling the tape "nauseating."

"Molestation is a terrible problem in our country," he said. "Sex is a beautiful thing and this just thwarts that idea."

Newberg also faces separate charges of rape and robbery with a deadly weapon, stemming from 10 additional homemade videotapes found when police searched his home, Luzaich said.

Those tapes allegedly show Newberg violently raping various women at knifepoint near a local construction site. Attorneys are expected to have a status check on that case in 30 days.

"The other women were not as lucky as (the teen)," Luzaich said. "This is something that is ongoing in his life. He's a danger to society."

Immerman said the adult women depicted on the tapes were "known prostitutes."

He said the teen benefited financially from Newberg and that her nonchalant behavior on the tape, such as chewing bubble gum, proved she was playful during the act.

"Yes, he's a video freak," he said. " And he'll have to pay the piper for what he's done. But it's not this dark evil the state is trying to portray it as."