In a disturbing incident that unfolded across state lines, a 13-year-old girl was kidnapped by a Texas man and later rescued in Southern California. Steven Robert Sablan, a 62-year-old resident of Cleburne, Texas, recently pleaded guilty to the charges, shedding light on the harrowing details of the case.
The incident came to a head on July 9 in Long Beach, just south of Los Angeles, when a vigilant passerby noticed the young victim holding up a handwritten “Help Me!” sign inside a parked car. Acting swiftly, the concerned citizen dialed 911, leading to the prompt rescue of the girl.
According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, Sablan admitted in his plea agreement to sexually assaulting the victim during the journey from Texas to California. The horrifying nature of the crimes became evident as the legal proceedings unfolded.
Having been in federal custody since July 2023, Sablan officially pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping, a charge that carries severe consequences. The plea marked a significant development in a case that had previously seen Sablan indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of kidnapping and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
While Sablan’s attorney, Deputy Federal Public Defender Nadine Hettle, declined to comment on the case, the gravity of the charges and their implications for the young victim are undeniable. The legal process is set to move forward, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for October 25.
If convicted, Sablan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, with the possibility of a maximum sentence of life. The outcome of the sentencing will be closely watched as justice seeks to address the trauma inflicted upon the young girl and ensure that those responsible for such heinous acts are held accountable for their actions.
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