An attorney for Las Vegas magician Jan Rouven has asked a judge to overturn an order keeping him in custody while his child porn charge moves through the courts, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Rouven is being held without bail after being charged with a felony count of receipt or distribution of child pornography. Rouven pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court.
The Tropicana, which featured Rouven's "The New Illusions" show, is not replacing him with another magician, at least for the time being. Twelve dancer have lost their jobs as a result of the closure.
When Rouven started his career, he called himself the “man with nine lives.” He made a career from making it look like he was about to die, then somehow escaping.
He had won many awards, including Magician of the Year, honors that stars such as David Copperfield had won.
Now Rouven’s show is done. And very likely, so is Rouven’s career.
Mike Weatherford, entertainment reporter for the Las Vegas Review Journal, has covered the Strip for decades. As part of that beat, he had watched Rouven’s career.
He told "KNPR's State of Nevada" that within days of Rouven's arrest, all vestiges of his association with the Tropicana had been removed from the resort.
Weatherford also said it might be difficult for the resort to find a similar act; tourists might shy away from another magician out of worry he or she is the one arrested.
Mike Weatherford, reporter at the Las Vegas Review-Journal