LAS VEGAS – A judge set an April trial date for a dethroned Nevada beauty queen whose lawyer says she'll fight misdemeanor traffic and resisting arrest charges.
Katherine N. "Katie" Rees, 23, a former Miss Nevada USA, appeared in a white cotton cocktail dress in Las Vegas Justice Court and said she understood the six misdemeanor charges against her. She was not asked to enter a plea before Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure set trial for April 9. She remains free without bail.
Outside court, lawyer Michael Cristalli said his client intends to plead not guilty. He claims she was a victim of police brutality and said her tooth was broken when she was forcefully pushed against her vehicle.
Rees smiled to show reporters that her front tooth has been repaired. She says she was on her way to buy ice cream when she was arrested about 3 a.m. on Feb. 6.
The charges against her include speeding, driving with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with suspended license plates, failure to produce proof of insurance and resisting a police officer.
The Miss Universe Organization and co-owner Donald Trump dethroned Rees in December 2006 after racy photos appeared on the Internet showing her kissing other young women, exposing one of her breasts and pulling down her pants to show her thong underwear at a party in Tampa, Fla.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox