After middle schooler’s testimony, judge orders trial for man who allegedly sexually assaulted her

By Bethany Barnes

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013 | 4:10 p.m.

A California man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a middle school student the first week of school will stand trial.

Las Vegas Township Judge Joseph Sciscento found during a preliminary hearing today that there was enough evidence today to send the case of Richard Martin Schlacta, 48, to Clark County District Court.

Schlacta’s charges include multiple counts of sexual assault with a child under 14 using a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, battery and coercion with force or threat of force.

The alleged victim, a skinny 13-year-old girl whose favorite class is art, took the witness stand today to tell the court about how a man held a knife to her neck, dragged her away from her bus stop and sexually assaulted her.

The suspect approached the girl while she was locking up her bike at C.W. Woodbury Middle School, 3875 E. Harmon Ave., before she was supposed to get on a bus to Knudson Magnet School, according to police reports.

Schlacta allegedly used a knife and dragged her between school buildings, where he sexually assaulted her, Metro Sexual Assault Unit Lt. Dan McGrath told the Sun.

When she saw an opportunity to escape, she took it, the girl said on the stand: After he forced her to have oral sex, her attacker started to pull down her pants.

“No, let me,” the girl said she suggested.

When he let go of her briefly, she ran into the street and flagged down a car.

Patrol officers responded to C.W. Woodbury around 6 a.m. after the flagged-down motorist called police.

Police found Schlacta a few blocks away and his car was found at the school.

The girl was transported to University Medical Center with several cuts on her arms.

Schlacta does not have a local arrest record, but he does have one outside of Las Vegas, McGrath said.

Schlacta remains in Clark County Detention Center with bail set at $1 million. Sciscento has order Schlacta have no contact with other inmates and may not correspond with anyone except his attorney.

A Clark County District Court arraignment is scheduled for Nov 27.