Defrocked beauty queen Lisa-Katharine Otsuka is closer to standing trial on theft and forgery charges after a judge refused to set aside her bench warrant.

Otsuka was extradited from Las Vegas last month after she failed to appear for an October court date.

That case involves the alleged theft of $3,000 from nonprofit dance troupe Manutahi in 2001.

Instead of appearing in court, Otsuka offered notification from her midwife that she was pregnant and unable to travel, according to city prosecutor spokesman Jim Fulton.

In November, she was arrested in Las Vegas and has been at OCCC since.

Her request to have the bench warrant removed was denied Friday because she had not had permission to leave Hawai'i, and her bail was increased from $50,000 to $100,000.

Fulton said there is no indication that Otsuka is pregnant.