Saudi airman found guilty of sexually assaulting teen in Las Vegas

A Nevada jury found a Saudi air force sergeant guilty Thursday of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in a Las Vegas Strip hotel, court officials said. Mazen Alotaibi, 24, was found guilty of seven of the nine charges levied against him, including first-degree kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor, the Las Vegas Sun reported. The jury reduced a felony charge of coercion to a misdemeanor, and acquitted him of lewdness with a minor. The teen, the first witness to testify, said he had agreed with Alotaibi to exchange sex for money. But he told jurors he thought he could run off with the money and avoid any sexual encounter. Alotaibi then cornered the boy in a the bathroom of his Circus Circus hotel room, the Sun reported, and forced himself on the boy. Alotaibi did not testify. A police interrogation was played for the jury, in which he admitted to sexual activity with the teen. His defense attorney argued that police shouldn't have questioned him because he was drunk, the Sun said. Alotaibi will be sentenced Dec. 16 and he faces life in prison.