Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Californian arrested in rape of man after downtown event

A California man led a drunken and stumbling concert attendee into a downtown Las Vegas hotel room and raped him, according to a Metro Police report.

The man had been separated from his girlfriend and a friend during the Las Rageous hard rock music festival Saturday night on Fremont Street where he was approached by Lance Austin, 54, who he believed to be hotel security, police said.

Surveillance images showed the victim on the ground at the Fremont Street Experience surrounded by Four Queens security when Austin approached him and led him away to a bar, police said. The victim, who was determined to have a blood alcohol level of .16 and opiates in his system, couldn't walk on his own.

The victim said his memory was "spotty" but remembered Austin telling him something about having a free hotel room, police said.

Austin led the victim to a room inside the Four Queens and, once inside, he physically attacked and sexually assaulted the victim, threatening him with further violence, police said.

The victim fell asleep, woke up early Sunday and told Austin he had to go home, police said. “Be cool about this. Don’t say anything to anyone,” the victim remembers Austin telling him, according to the report.

Austin, who stands about 6 feet and weighs about 240 pounds, was identified through surveillance images from the hotel, which showed him leading the victim, who had difficulty walking, through the property, police said.

Investigators took DNA samples and clothing from Austin's room, which matched the description given to them from the victim, police said.

Austin, who was arrested early Sunday, was booked without bail at the Clark County Detention Center on seven counts of sexual assault and one count of kidnapping, jail logs show. He’s scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning.