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Souriyadeth Markthepharack, 55, faces three counts of first-degree kidnapping, five counts of sexual assault, and one count of lewdness with a child who was 14 or 15. He is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.
A preliminary hearing is set for September 15 in Las Vegas Justice Court.
The case got underway after a woman flagged down a patrol officer on June 7 along Maryland Parkway in the eastern part of the valley. She told police she wanted to report a sexual assault involving two teen girls.
Officers later spoke with the girls. They said they had gone to a house in the Las Vegas Valley a few weeks earlier to get tattoos. According to the police report, the man gave them alcohol and soda. Both girls said they became sick after drinking and then passed out.
When they woke up, they told investigators a man was sexually assaulting them.
What the Suspect Told Investigators
After talking to several people, detectives identified Markthepharack as the suspect. When they first called him, he declined to sit for an interview and said he did not want to risk getting deported.
Police arrested him on August 27. Once in custody, he agreed to speak with them. He said he is from Laos, that he is trying to sort out his legal status in the United States, and that his sister had recently been deported.
He admitted having sexual contact with both girls but said he did not know they were underage. He also told officers the girls seemed willing and never told him no.
The arrest report notes that Markthepharack wrote a letter of apology to the girls. In it he said he did not realize they were underage, that he was sorry, and that he asked for their forgiveness.
The case is still in its early stages. At the upcoming preliminary hearing, a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for the charges to move forward. Until a court rules otherwise, these remain allegations. Anyone facing this kind of case has the right to a full defense and the presumption of innocence.
Nevada treats allegations involving sexual assault and minors with a high level of seriousness. The ages of the people involved, the statements given to police, and the specific facts of the case will all matter as things progress.
If you or someone close to you has been the victim of a sexual assault and needs help, or if you are facing related criminal charges in Las Vegas, please don’t hesitate to reach out for legal support. Here on our site lvcriminaldefense.com you can simply leave your details on our online form.
We guarantee we’ll get back to you so we can talk through your situation privately and explain your options.
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