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Isidro Garcia pleads not guilty in kidnapping of girl | Isidro Garcia pleads not guilty in kidnapping of girl |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A man accused of kidnapping a teenager, holding her captive for 10 years and forcing her to marry him has pleaded not guilty in a California court. | |
Isidro Garcia, 41, is charged with rape, lewd acts on a minor, and kidnapping to commit a sexual offence. | Isidro Garcia, 41, is charged with rape, lewd acts on a minor, and kidnapping to commit a sexual offence. |
The woman had a child with the alleged kidnapper. She contacted police after getting in touch with her sister on Facebook, authorities said. | The woman had a child with the alleged kidnapper. She contacted police after getting in touch with her sister on Facebook, authorities said. |
Mr Garcia's lawyer says the woman lied because the couple were separating. | Mr Garcia's lawyer says the woman lied because the couple were separating. |
"We are really looking forward to our day in court," lawyer Charles Frisco told reporters on Monday. | "We are really looking forward to our day in court," lawyer Charles Frisco told reporters on Monday. |
"There is no corroborating evidence that I can see that she was in any fashion sexually, mentally or physically abused." | "There is no corroborating evidence that I can see that she was in any fashion sexually, mentally or physically abused." |
Prosecutors say the abuse began in 2004 when Mr Garcia was dating the victim's mother and residing with her and her daughters in Santa Ana, a city in Orange County. | Prosecutors say the abuse began in 2004 when Mr Garcia was dating the victim's mother and residing with her and her daughters in Santa Ana, a city in Orange County. |
In August of that year, he assaulted the victim's mother and drugged the teenager, then 15 and recently arrived from Mexico, police said. | In August of that year, he assaulted the victim's mother and drugged the teenager, then 15 and recently arrived from Mexico, police said. |
He kidnapped her, telling her she would be deported if she told authorities, and drove her 26 miles (42km) north to Compton, in Los Angeles county, where he locked her in a garage, police said. | He kidnapped her, telling her she would be deported if she told authorities, and drove her 26 miles (42km) north to Compton, in Los Angeles county, where he locked her in a garage, police said. |
Behind closed doors | Behind closed doors |
In 2007 he forced the woman to marry him and the couple later had a daughter, now age three, police said. | In 2007 he forced the woman to marry him and the couple later had a daughter, now age three, police said. |
Mr Garcia allegedly told the victim her family had given up looking for her. The woman twice tried to escape but he beat her severely, police said. | Mr Garcia allegedly told the victim her family had given up looking for her. The woman twice tried to escape but he beat her severely, police said. |
The woman, now 25, later held a job and had her own car, police said. | The woman, now 25, later held a job and had her own car, police said. |
Recently the woman contacted her sister on Facebook and learned that her mother had indeed been trying to find her through a Spanish-language newspaper and television station. | |
Neighbours described the couple as "happy" prior to the allegations against Mr Garcia. | Neighbours described the couple as "happy" prior to the allegations against Mr Garcia. |
"I think maybe she got tired of him, who knows?" Jose Polanco told the Associated Press news agency. | "I think maybe she got tired of him, who knows?" Jose Polanco told the Associated Press news agency. |
Prosecutor Whitney Bokosky said following the hearing on Monday that the charges against Mr Garcia stem from alleged incidents when the girl was a minor. | Prosecutor Whitney Bokosky said following the hearing on Monday that the charges against Mr Garcia stem from alleged incidents when the girl was a minor. |
"Neighbours don't know what goes on behind closed doors," she said. |
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