Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 | 10 a.m.
A 28-year-old man accused of being a serial rapist is guilty of nothing more than refusing to pay prostitutes for consensual sex, according to his defense lawyer.
Ricardo Beltran's trial on multiple counts of sexual assault with use of a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and a count of open or gross lewdness began Tuesday before District Judge Jennifer Togliatti.
Beltran's attorney, Chris Oram, said although having sex with prostitutes and not paying them is "despicable and stupid" there is no evidence to support prosecutors' claims that Beltran kidnapped, robbed and raped several women at knifepoint during the summer of 2004.
Oram said that since prostitution is illegal, Beltran was not bound by any law to pay the woman for sex. Oram said there is no physical evidence to support the prosecution's claim of rape.
Deputy District Attorney Becky Goettsch, however, told the jury during opening arguments on Tuesday that the evidence will show "a predator sits among us."
Goettsch said Beltran has a "penchant for taking young women off the street, robbing them and brutally raping them."
The prosecutor said Beltran was a "creature of habit" and was ultimately caught because he favored attacking women who were either working as escorts and prostitutes or "seemed like they might be working" in the area of Las Vegas Boulevard South near Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road.
She alleged Beltran used a knife to force his victims into a convertible and drove them to nearby apartment complexes where he raped and robbed them.
Goettsch said Beltran's victims included a 21-year-old escort from Canada, a 17-year-old "meek" girl who "just entered the business' and another 19-year-old woman.
Beltran was arrested Aug. 8, 2004, after a Metro Police officer posed as a friend of his alleged 19-year-old victim and said she wanted her cell phone back.
The officer scheduled a meeting with the man, who had answered the woman's cell phone, but he didn't show up. Beltran was found nearby in a convertible matching the description of the rapist's car and was taken into custody, according to police records.
Prosecutors are expected to continue their case this morning.
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