What began as an arranged meetup through an online escort site ended in a violent nightmare inside a downtown Las Vegas motel room, according to police. Investigators say a woman who agreed to meet a man on Monday was handcuffed, gagged and raped in a room at a motel on East Fremont Street, then taken to a hospital for treatment after the attack.
Authorities have identified the suspects as Colin Michael Jackson and R. L. Fortson. Both men were arrested in late March and remain in custody as their cases move into the court system.
As reported by the Review-Journal, police say the woman was restrained with handcuffs and had duct tape placed over her mouth before both men sexually assaulted her in the East Fremont Street motel room. Investigators reported finding a roll of duct tape and a used strip on the bed, and noted that a handcuff key on a suspect's key chain was used to unlock the restraints.
According to the account in the criminal complaint, one acquaintance of the victim reportedly chased and fought with an assailant outside and was able to recover the suspect's car keys during the struggle. That scuffle would later become part of the evidence trail.
Both men were booked in late March and listed in Clark County custody records. The Clark County Detention Center's online inmate search shows they were being held as the cases moved toward court, and county booking pages indicate the pair remained in local custody while prosecutors and police continued to assemble evidence.
Allegations, Charges and Evidence
Per the Review-Journal, Jackson is charged with first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and sex assault, five counts of sexual assault, coercion with force and open and gross lewdness. Fortson faces allegations including two counts of sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit sexual assault and coercion with force.
Investigators say they identified Fortson using cellphone data, surveillance video and by tracing a vehicle to a Henderson residence. Police describe surveillance footage that they say shows Jackson exiting the motel room and running away.
Downtown Crime Trends and Policing
The case lands as Las Vegas police track rising numbers in some of the valley's most serious crimes. LVMPD's weekly statistical activity report shows upticks in year to date forcible sex offenses and kidnapping reports across several area commands, including those that cover parts of downtown. It is the sort of data point that keeps detectives busy while they work violent incidents like this one.
The figures are broken down by command in the department's own summary, available through LVMPD.
What Happens Next
Both men remained held at the Clark County Detention Center as prosecutors prepared their initial court appearances. The Review-Journal reports that the pair are scheduled for a Las Vegas Justice Court hearing this coming Monday.
Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charging documents that could move the cases to district court for a possible trial.
