Rapist awaits extradition hearing

A 42-year-old man accused of raping a 14-year-old Carson City girl is awaiting an extradition hearing in a Lassen County, Calif., jail on a $75,000 cash-only bail.

A resident's tip led to the arrest of Michael Botelho on Tuesday night at a Susanville, Calif., motel where he was staying with his wife and two young children.

"He should go before a judge at the end of this week or the first of next week," said Washoe County Sheriff's Sgt. David Nikoley.

"If he waives extradition that gives our agency 10 days to pick him up. If he fights it, a hearing will be set and we'll have to obtain a governor's warrant. That could take 45 days to several months."

Botelho is charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of kidnapping and one court of battery with intent to commit sexual assault.

"We could have him back as early as within the next two weeks," Nikoley said.

Washoe detectives have interviewed Botelho, but Nikoley said "right now we're not going to release anything from that. That's part of the investigation."

He said one of the first calls police made after Botelho's capture was to the victim's family. He said they are relieved Botelho has been caught.

Botelho allegedly picked up the girl to babysit Aug. 7 after answering an ad in a free-distribution paper. Instead, Nikoley said, Botelho took her to an isolated spot at south Washoe Lake where he assaulted her for an hour.

"We just don't live in a day and age anymore where you can put ads in the paper for those things," Nikoley said.