"Thunder From Down Under" theft trial begins in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS -- Jury selection has begun in the trial of a 24-year-old man accused of firing a gun as he tried to make off with costumes and props used by the Thunder From Down Under male stripper revue in Las Vegas.

No one was seriously wounded in the March 18 incident backstage at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino on - yes, the Strip.

Joey Kadmiri, 24, was in a Las Vegas courtroom Monday when prosecutors dropped eight of 17 charges previously filed against him, including attempted murder, armed robbery and several counts of robbery with a weapon.

However, Kadmiri still faces nine felony charges that could get him decades in state prison if he's convicted, including burglary, robbery, robbery with a weapon, battery with a weapon, battery with a weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, possession of a controlled substance and weapons counts.

He has pleaded not guilty. Defense attorney Joshua Tomsheck has said Kadmiri has drug and mental health issues.

He hasn't said if Kadmiri will testify. At least 15 witnesses are expected to testify about the incident, including several members of the Australian-based male revue.

The trial before Clark County District Judge Jerome Tao is expected to take several days. Authorities say a 55-year-old performer was slightly injured by debris from a wall after Kadmiri fired a .44 Magnum handgun near the man's head.

Several heavily muscled male dancers subdued Kadmiri until police arrived. Kadmiri was left with a black eye and bruises.

Kadmiri has had several other scrapes with the law, including a pending domestic violence case alleging he kidnapped, assaulted, coerced and beat a woman, pointed a gun at her and confined her to a closet in November.

Court records show Kadmiri was convicted in September 2011 of misdemeanor escape stemming from a March 2010 attempt to run, while handcuffed, from police arresting him on unspecified felony charges.