Las Vegas ? The fugitive accused of raping a little girl on videotape was portrayed Monday as a dangerous, knife-wielding survivalist who once vowed never to be taken alive and formerly worked as an animal trainer with Las Vegas illusionists Siegfried & Roy.

The FBI and Las Vegas police pressed a nationwide manhunt for Chester “Chet” Arthur Stiles, 37, who authorities say can be seen molesting a 3-year-old girl in a mysterious video that was recorded four years ago and surfaced last month.

“He’s a survivalist type who isn’t bothered by living without electricity or water, and always carries a fighting-type knife,” said Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett.

Investigators were interviewing people who know Stiles and pursuing hundreds of “very fruitful” leads Monday from across the country, said police Capt. Vincent Cannito, head of the department’s youth and family crimes unit.

Authorities were seeking Stiles on an unrelated warrant issued last year charging him with fleeing to avoid prosecution on allegations he groped a 6-year-old girl in 2003.