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Mazen Alotaibi appears in Las Vegas Justice Court for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, January 17, 2013.
By Jackie Valley (contact) 
Published Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 | 12:53 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 | 2:35 p.m.
The defense attorney for a Saudi air force sergeant charged with raping a teenage boy on the Las Vegas Strip says he plans to file a motion to prevent his client’s interrogation by police from being used as evidence.
Mazen Alotaibi, 23, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday in Las Vegas Justice Court, meaning his case will proceed to District Court. His first appearance there will be Feb. 6.
During Thursday’s brief hearing, prosecutors also amended a criminal complaint to add two counts of lewdness with a child under the age of 14. Those are on top of existing charges of sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age, first-degree kidnapping and coercion.
In light of the additional counts, Justice of the Peace William Kephart increased Alotaibi’s bail by $500,000, bringing the total to $1.72 million.
Outside the courtroom, Alotaibi’s defense attorney, Don Chairez, said he believes his client was too intoxicated to fully understand and then consent to giving up his Miranda rights when interviewed by police the day of his arrest.
“It’s blatantly obvious my client was under the influence,” Chairez said, referring to a police video of the interrogation. “His eyes are red and bloodshot...We believe the legal research shows somebody who is totally intoxicated is incapable of giving up his rights.”
Chairez also pointed to Alotaibi's language barrier as an additional source of confusion.
Alotaibi, whose native language is Arabic, told detectives, "I don't understand" as they were explaining his rights before the interrogation, Chairez said.
Chairez is seeking results of blood taken from Alotaibi at the time of arrest, which he suspects would show a high blood-alcohol concentration.
Metro Police allege Alotaibi admitted during an interview with detectives to performing two sexual acts on the boy, although he labeled one incident an accident, according to the arrest report.
The incident happened New Year’s Eve when Alotaibi allegedly made contact with the victim, a 13-year-old boy visiting Las Vegas, while he was walking down a hallway at the Circus Circus casino, the arrest report states.
Alotaibi allegedly forced the boy into his room, where he sexually assaulted him, according to the arrest report. The boy eventually escaped and notified hotel security, police said.
Chairez and prosecutors Chief Deputy District Attorneys Mary Kay Holthus and James Sweetin danced around questions about the case possibly heading toward a negotiation.
“Who knows,” Chairez said.
Sweetin said the prosecution and defense have not received all evidence, some of which still is being analyzed or transcribed.
Chairez said he would like to review video from the hotel, as well as try to ascertain what the alleged victim did immediately after leaving Alotaibi’s room. The defense believes the boy gave authorities conflicting stories, he said.
“My philosophy is haste makes waste,” Chairez said. “Because of the seriousness of the charges, I don’t want to rush anything.”
The defense contends the boy followed Alotaibi and his group of friends, wanted to buy marijuana and then offered to perform sexual acts for money.
The boy told police he went to a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop after escaping Alotaibi’s room so he could calm down before notifying authorities, according to the arrest report.
Alotaibi, shackled at his hands and feet, appeared in court wearing standard blue jail attire. He remained silent, except when quietly discussing his case, through a court interpreter, with Chairez.
Alotaibi had been temporarily stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and was vacationing in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve.
How do you "accidentally" perform a sexual if there is also an intentional one?
Does this evidence matter at this point? Isn't there physical evidence in addition to testimony?
I guess we have to let him go then. If he was too drunk. Oh well. Welcome to America 2013. Bang a boy and get away with it cuz you were "too drunk."
Makes perfect sense.
Give this piece of you know what some Saudi justice.
just when u think it couldn't get any worse---some lawyer lowers the bar another notch!!! sell your soul for a few pieces of gold---u piece of crap.
The sergeant was so drunk he thought he was back in Saudi Arabia and wasn't doing anything illegal.
It's true. That excuse only works for non-citizens. Woof!
Wait a second... Is this the same Don Chairez that tried to run for District Attorney? Hmm... I suppose I'd rather take a financially corrupt public official who lets a wannabe celebrity caught with some drugs for personal use off the hook, rather than this morally corrupt scumbag who would allow pedophile rapists loose not because they're innocent but because of a technicality...
If it is the same guy, kiss any hopes of a future election goodbye! Your political career is OVER!
DMCVegas
(Robert Rooney).....
"I suppose I'd rather take a financially corrupt public official who lets a wannabe celebrity caught with some drugs for personal use off the hook, rather than this morally corrupt scumbag who would allow pedophile rapists loose not because they're innocent but because of a technicality..."
If the statement by Mazen Alotaibi is thrown out by the judge it won't be because Don Chairez found a "technicality." It would be because police ignored the law and failed to do their job properly.
The contempt some people have for criminal defense attorneys is misplaced. The fundamental duty of a criminal defense lawyer is to zealously represent his client within the bounds of the law. There is never a moral dilemma once a lawyer assumes the duty to defend.
Defense attorneys are sworn to uphold the Constitution. The Sixth Amendment, requires that everyone accused of a crime--not just those we deem "worthy"-- have effective representation.
If Mazen Alotaibi is guilty of the loathsome crimes he has been accused of, the DA should be able to get a conviction without violating the law.
'The contempt some people have for criminal defense attorneys is misplaced.'
Yes, because we all sleep so well knowing OJ didn't do it. And since when is it 'violating the law' to interview a suspect in the condition they were arrested in?
'Red bloodshot eyes'.......oh yeah we can see that.....he must have been legally drunk.....not like he could have alergies.....smoked some dope....or been crying or anything.....he HAD to be drunk.
Wait up here , what if an american did that in their country??? he would have been put to death by now.
@Darthfrod..."'The contempt some people have for criminal defense attorneys is misplaced.'
Yes, because we all sleep so well knowing OJ didn't do it."
Actually I go to bed every night without thinking about O.J. are all.
However, if the O.J. verdict keeps you up at nights, I will have to agree with Brooke. Any contempt you have stemming from the verdict should be directed at the incompetent prosecutors, the dishonest cops and the fame whore of a judge. who all did their very best to work out their own personal agendas at the expense of a successful prosecution.
Now if the confession is deemed inadmissible that will be on the Metro officers who interviewed him. Your assertion that officers aren't trained to recognize when someone is intoxicated ignores the reality that cops are trained to see these signs in order to enforce DUI laws.