James Allen Selby

An accused serial rapist made his first appearance before a Tucson court yesterday, facing charges for sexual assaults committed around the UA in 2001 and 2002.

James Allen Selby was charged last year with four campus-area rapes, along with more than 25 other crimes ranging from attempted murder to kidnapping.

Selby, who was appointed a public defender, did not speak throughout the proceedings.

Fred Roach, deputy Pima County attorney, asked the court to set bail at $2 million.

Selby was convicted of sexual assault in Colorado last September. After a nationwide manhunt, Selby was caught when he gave his name to hospital officials in the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Colorado Springs, who recognized him from police photos.

The crimes received national attention after the television series "America's Most Wanted" aired a segment on Selby.

After Selby was sentenced in Colorado, Roach said the Pima County Attorney's Office filed extradition paperwork to bring Selby to Tucson.

Selby arrived in Tucson late Monday afternoon.

Selby is also wanted in Oklahoma, Nevada and California in connection with 15 sex crimes committed in the past four years.

All the attacks occurred in college towns.

Selby was charged in Tucson on Aug. 16, 2002, for one count of attempted murder, three counts of sexual assault, one count of aggravated assault and one count of kidnapping.

The first assault occurred on Oct. 3, 2001, near campus on East Adams Street. Another took place on Oct. 31, 2001, on East Blacklidge Drive.

Selby was also charged with entering a home near North First Avenue and East Roger Road in January 2002 and sexually assaulting the resident. The last sexual assault Selby was charged with occurred on May 30, 2002, near East 22nd Street and South Fifth Avenue.

Roach said bail was set at $2 million because Selby is considered a "flight risk."

"We want to make sure that justice is done here in Arizona," Roach said.

Selby is scheduled to appear in court again on March 31.

No trial date has been set.