Accused Fugitive Nicholas Rossi Faces Trial for Sexual Assault

Nicholas Rossi, whose true name is Nicholas Alahverdian, appeared in a Utah courtroom Monday to face allegations of sexually assaulting two women in 2008. The 38-year-old, who was found alive in Scotland in 2021 after supposedly dying of lymphoma, denies the charges.

Prosecutors allege Rossi used his charm to manipulate and assault vulnerable women, with investigations revealing he employed multiple aliases over the years to avoid capture. He is accused of raping a woman who testified that their relationship began after she responded to his Facebook ad while recovering from a brain injury. The woman, who kept her identity private, described Rossi as slightly heavier and older but otherwise unchanged.

According to her account, after a brief whirlwind romance and engagement, their relationship turned controlling. She recounted an incident where Rossi exhibited aggressive behavior, including banging on her car and blocking her from leaving a parking garage. She eventually drove him home but refused to continue the relationship.

The victim described how Rossi later assaulted her by forcing himself on her while she was too frightened to resist, despite her initial willingness to talk. Her efforts to seek justice through a small claims court over engagement rings were thwarted, and her accusations were criticized by Rossi’s legal team as stemming from resentment years later.

Rossi, who arrived in court in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, claimed he was an Irishman named Arthur Knight and had never been to the U.S., but Scottish authorities rejected his defense and ordered his extradition back to Utah for trial.

His legal representatives argued that evidence was incomplete and accused the victim of fabricating her story. Prosecutors responded that Rossi’s team had tried to dismiss key evidence, and Rossi is expected to face another rape charge in Utah County in September.