LAS VEGAS — A Saudi Arabian air force sergeant sentenced to 35 years in Nevada state prison has filed notice that he'll appeal his conviction on kidnapping and rape charges involving a 13-year-old boy at a Las Vegas Strip hotel.
Defense attorney Dominic Gentile (jen-TEEL') said Wednesday he expects to file a full appeal for Mazen Alotaibi (MAH'-zen Ah-loh-TAH'-bee) by June.
The Nevada Supreme Court posted initial appeal documents Tuesday.
Alotaibi was sentenced Jan. 28.
Gentile says the state high court should consider whether current events and bias prevent a 25-year-old Arab Muslim from getting a fair trial in the U.S.
Gentile also questions the fairness of a prison sentence longer for sexual assault than for murder.
Alotaibi's appeal may also argue that he was badly represented at trial by his previous lawyer.
