Law enforcement recently reported that they have apprehended a man suspected of kidnapping and assaulting a 10-year-old Northridge girl. The suspect was tracked down and arrested in Mexico at a Tijuana drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Working together, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had been concentrating their investigations near the California-Mexico border due to indicators that he may have fled in this direction. An LAPD chief stated that they received footage of the suspect crossing the border into Tecate, Mexico earlier this month.
The suspect has been charged with 36 counts of sexual assault, a kidnapping charge and a first-degree burglary charge. If he is convicted on all of these counts, then he could be facing multiple life sentences. The mission to capture this man began when a felony complaint was filed for an incident that took place on the night of March 27th. According to this complaint, the suspect broke into the home and used a knife to kidnap the 10-year-old Northridge girl. The complaint also alleges that the suspect repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl and took naked pictures of her.
The suspect was discovered beat up 12 hours later in a Woodland Hills parking lot. There is also an alleged accomplice to this attempted burglary and kidnapping. A second suspect was arrested. He pled not guilty, but if he is convicted, he could face as many as 12 years in prison. Authorities believe that this second suspect was the driver of the getaway vehicle. Both suspects in this case have prior convictions on their record, but neither of them are registered sex offenders.
If the primary suspect is convicted, he will face lifetime sex offender registration status. Tier III sex offenses are typically those that involve minors and/or are violent. The FBI identified the suspect as a career criminal and a habitual offender. In California, a third felony offense that is violent can qualify a person for "third strike" penalties (25 years to life imprisonment).
The 36 counts of sexual assault are undoubtedly the most serious charges that the suspect faces. Kidnapping someone under the age of 14 is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a period of 5, 8 or 11 years (§ 208 of the California Penal Code) and first-degree burglary is punishable by imprisonment in state prison for a period of 2, 4 or six years.
Martinian & Associates Inc. is a serious criminal defense law firm that represents clients no matter how serious their charges are. We never back down from complex cases. If you are facing a felony offense, a federal criminal charge or sexual assault charges, contact our firm today to discuss your case.