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Friday, April 19, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Vegas Hotel Guest Says Security Raped Her

LAS VEGAS (CN) - Two security men at Las Vegas' Vdara Hotel & Spa conspired to rape a guest as she slept in her room, the woman claims in court.

Plaintiff S.B., of England, sued Citycenter Vdara Development dba Vdara, her alleged assailants Ashenafi Aberha and Jonatan Rodarte-Martinez, and Doe security companies and corporations, on Tuesday in Clark County Court.

She claims that Aberha, aided by Rodarte-Martinez, both security men, snuck into her hotel room as she slept on June 20, 2013 and "physically assaulted and raped" her.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrested Aberha on June 20, 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and burglary, both felonies . His trial has been set for Nov. 17 in Clark County Court.

The woman says Aberha and Rodarte-Martinez "were acting within the scope of their employment" and Vdara officials are "vicariously liable for the damages caused by their employees' actions and negligence." (Graphs 41 and 42)

The woman seeks damages and punitive damages for negligence, negligent hiring, training, retention and supervision and infliction of emotional distress, pain, suffering, shock and agony, and special damages for medical and psychological costs.

She is represented by Robert T. Eglet of Las Vegas.

Vdara officials could not be reached for comment.

The Vdara's website bills the hotel as "Vdara Hotel & Spa at Aria Las Vegas."

The lawsuit is the second filed in two days against Aria-related properties in which single women staying at the hotels claim they were assaulted in their hotel rooms by hotel security staff.

Another woman in a separate complaint in Clark County District Court on Monday accused an Aria staff member of raping her after he escorted her to her room and re-entering it with a master key as she slept on Aug. 28. The staffer, Nelson Antonio Valladares, was arrested that same day and is charged with sexual assault and burglary.

Aria officials did not return calls seeking comment.

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