Nicholas Rossi requests to be called Arthur Knight in Utah County Jail

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SALT LAKE CITY — During a recent scheduling hearing in his Salt Lake County rape case, Nicholas Rossi, who is currently being held in the Utah County Jail, requested to be referred to as Arthur Knight.

Rossi, speaking initially through an oxygen mask, later removed the mask to address the court, albeit with a raspy voice and an accent that made him difficult to understand.

After struggling to communicate, Rossi’s attorney, Samantha Dugan, facilitated his request to the judge to no longer be identified as Rossi but as Mr. Knight instead.

Although Judge Barry Lawrence declined to issue an order to the Utah County Jail, he agreed to refer to Rossi as Mr. Knight within the courtroom, except when his case is being called.

Rossi faces rape charges, a first-degree felony, in Utah County and Salt Lake County for incidents dating back to 2008. Despite claiming to be Arthur Knight, courts in the United Kingdom have identified him through DNA and tattoos as Nicholas Rossi.

Prosecutors allege that Rossi has used multiple aliases over the years, complicating the legal proceedings.

Rossi is scheduled to appear virtually for another hearing on April 19, where a preliminary hearing will be set, marking his first in-person courtroom appearance.

During a recent hearing in Provo, Rossi’s attorney referred to him as Knight, while the judge and prosecutors continued to use the Rossi name, under which he is officially charged.

The next hearing in Utah County is set for April 16, where Rossi faces charges related to a 2008 rape in Orem.

Additional charges in Salt Lake County were filed after Rossi’s name came to light, prompting another alleged victim to come forward with accusations of rape.

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