Prosecutors oppose release of ex-Strip illusionist on child porn charges

By JEFF GERMAN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

A sign promoting Jan Rouven’s show is seen outside of the Tropicana hotel-casino in this photo from April 29, 2015. The show was closed down this week after Rouven’s arrest on child pornography charges. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal File)

Citing new evidence, federal prosecutors filed court papers Thursday opposing a defense bid to free former Strip illusionist Jan Rouven on child pornography charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Cartier Giroux alleged in the papers that FBI agents during a court-authorized search in January found a child pornography video “on pause” on a laptop in the pool house of Rouven’s Las Vegas home. The laptop was on a bed.

Another seized computer contained Skype chats between Rouven under the user name “larsusa22” and an unidentified man offering to let Rouven watch him have sex with his daughter in exchange for access to child porn images, Giroux alleged.

She also cited several graphic examples of child pornography Rouven allegedly was sharing with others.

Prosecutors presented evidence last month to persuade a federal judge to keep Rouven in custody as a danger to the community while he awaits a June 6 trial, Giroux argued.

Rouven, 38, the former star of “The New Illusions” show at the Tropicana, pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to four child pornography charges.

He has an April 19 hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro on a defense motion seeking his release.