Saudi Gazette report LAS VEGAS – A 23-year-old Saudi who was arrested by Las Vegas police for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old American boy on New Year's Eve reportedly intends to plead not guilty to the charges against him. Local newspapers said that the man, identified by American papers as Mazen Al-Otaibi, is facing kidnap and sexual assault charges and could be jailed for decades if convicted of the charges. However, his lawyer said he would plead not guilty at a court hearing on Jan. 17. The Washington Times and Washington Examiner said the boy was staying with his family in the same hotel where Al-Otaibi also was staying. The boy said while he was walking in the corridor he was forced into Al-Otaibi's room where he was raped. The crime was reported and the police arrested the Saudi and charged him. A Las Vegas police officer was quoted by the Associated Press and Fox News as saying that the police have strong evidence against Al-Otaibi, while the Examiner said medical tests showed that the boy was brutally raped. Las Vegas Review Journal reported that Al-Otaibi admitted to investigators that he tried to pay money to the boy, but assaulted his victim when he refused.
