TX - 13-year old girl kidnapped and sexually assaulted is rescued after waiving "help me" sign from kidnapper's car - July 21, 2023

[Ebon]

'Help Me!': Girl kidnapped at gunpoint and taken across country is rescued after waving desperate sign at strangers, officials say

"If you don’t get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you," the accused kidnapper allegedly said to the 13-year-old victim while raising a handgun. Fearing for her life, the girl obeyed, prosecutors say.

lawandcrime.com

A 13-year-old Texas girl allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint and sexually assaulted multiple times as her captor drove her to California has been rescued after waving a “Help Me!” sign at strangers, officials say.

Steven Robert Sablan, 61, is charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, the Justice Department announced in a press release.

Federal prosecutors say that the girl was walking down a street in San Antonio, Texas, on July 6 when Sablan approached her in his car, a gray Nissan Sentra.

“If you don’t get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you,” Sablan allegedly said while raising a black handgun to his side. The girl, fearing for her life, obeyed, prosecutors said.

He then repeatedly sexually assaulted her, according to court documents, and continued to do so over the next two days as he drove the girl from Texas to California.

 

[Megnut]

'Help Me!': Girl kidnapped at gunpoint and taken across country is rescued after waving desperate sign at strangers, officials say

"If you don’t get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you," the accused kidnapper allegedly said to the 13-year-old victim while raising a handgun. Fearing for her life, the girl obeyed, prosecutors say.

lawandcrime.com

A 13-year-old Texas girl allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint and sexually assaulted multiple times as her captor drove her to California has been rescued after waving a “Help Me!” sign at strangers, officials say.

Steven Robert Sablan, 61, is charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, the Justice Department announced in a press release.

Federal prosecutors say that the girl was walking down a street in San Antonio, Texas, on July 6 when Sablan approached her in his car, a gray Nissan Sentra.

“If you don’t get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you,” Sablan allegedly said while raising a black handgun to his side. The girl, fearing for her life, obeyed, prosecutors said.

He then repeatedly sexually assaulted her, according to court documents, and continued to do so over the next two days as he drove the girl from Texas to California.

What a courageous young lady, and kudos to the responder who reported it, making rescue possible.

May he never see the light of day again.

Jmo

 

[ifindedout]

Pled guilty in November. BBM.
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/steven-sablan-plea-kidnapped-girl-help-me-note-18491048.php

A 61-year-old man accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl this summer from San Antonio and sexually assaulting her while taking her to California has agreed to plead guilty to a federal kidnapping charge.

[...]

Sablan, of Cleburne, south of Fort Worth, was indicted in July in Los Angeles on federal charges of kidnapping and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Public records show Sablan also has lived in San Antonio.

But as part of a plea deal, Sablan will plead guilty only to the kidnapping charge. A sentencing calculator estimates that the guidelines suggest a sentence of 30 years to life, before any mitigating factors are considered.

He also agreed to register as a sex offender, the plea deal states. His plea hearing has not yet been scheduled, but it will take place in Los Angeles’ federal court.

edited to fix spacing