The Utah judicial system is getting an education this week on the prosecutorial challenges in bringing former Rhode Island conman and snared fugitive Nicholas Alahverdian before a court of law.
For the second time this week, in scenes reminiscent of what took place in Scotland for more than a year, Alahverdian, facing two 2008 rape charges and a sexual battery misdemeanor, stood up a judge waiting to hear his case.
“I have been informed by Utah County that he has refused to appear today,” said District Court Judge Barry G. Lawrence at the start of what was to be a scheduling conference for the 36-year-old Alahverdian.
“Your honor I would like to note for the record he does have a variety of fairly serious medical issues that I have heard about from his other attorney,” said his defense lawyer Samantha Dugan. But, “I can not speak today for why he is not hear today.”
She asked that the conference be rescheduled to a later date.
Alahverdian turned previous court hearings into theater
Alahverdian, who faked his death in February 2020 while on the run in the United Kingdom, was unable to run from COVID. Glasgow police, armed with an international warrant, arrested him in December 2021 when he awoke from a coma in a hospital.