Law school student Kumari Fulbright, 25, faces a long prison sentence if convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault.

Fulbright, who competed for the Miss Arizona title in 2005 and 2006, features in a 2008 calendar in which bikini-clad women pose with guns. She recently completed a stint working for a federal judge.

She is accused of holding and torturing her 24-year-old ex-boyfriend in early December with the help of three other men.

It is believed the dispute began when her ex-boyfriend was accused of stealing jewellery given to Fulbright by another former boyfriend, Robert Ergonis, 44, who is one of the three men accused of helping in the kidnap plot.

The men allegedly bound the victim with plastic ties and duct tape and threatened him with a gun. Fulbright is then accused of biting the man on his forearm, right hand and ear, holding a knife to his head and telling him she was going to kill him.

He managed to escape after freeing a hand and grabbing the gun, which discharged, causing no harm.

A police complaint said the suspects stole the victim's wallet, some money, his mobile phone and briefcase.

Fulbright was freed from custody after a $50,000 bond was posted.