LAS VEGAS - A Roman Catholic priest accused of beating and sexually assaulting a female employee at a southern Nevada parish office made his initial court appearance Tuesday in Las Vegas.The Rev. George Chaanine stood shackled, wearing gray-blue jail scrubs, as he was represented by a Clark County public defender during his brief appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court.
Chaanine was not asked to enter a plea on charges including attempted murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and battery that could result in a sentence of life in prison if he is convicted.
The 52-year-old priest answered just one question, telling Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith he could not afford to hire a lawyer.He did not immediately seek bail. His court-appointed lawyer, Jeff Banks, said he would do that in writing later.
The judge set a preliminary hearing for Feb. 27.Chaanine is accused of hitting a church soloist over the head with a wine bottle and attacking her Jan. 26 the Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church office. He was arrested Feb. 1 near Phoenix after nearly a week on the run.
Banks said outside court that Diocese of Las Vegas was not paying for Chaanine's defense.
A spokeswoman for the diocese did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Banks declined to describe Chaanine's days as a fugitive, and said the priest was "ready to face these charges." "He's keeping his chin up in this most trying time of his life," Banks said.
Prosecutors Lisa Luzsich and Mary Kay Holthus declined comment.Banks suggested he would challenge the validity of the claims by Chaanine's accuser, a former Las Vegas Strip singer who worked with Chaanine in the parish office and who hired a lawyer shortly after reporting the attack.
"We have to take a very close look at the motivation for these accusations," the defense lawyer said.
The woman told police she was beaten, groped and choked nearly into unconsciousness before she started praying and Chaanine stopped.
She said he muttered that he was going to kill himself, told her to wait in the church office 15 minutes, and left, according to a police report.
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