Jurors Hit Partial Impasse In Kidnap-Rape Trial
FULLERTON (AP) — Four verdicts have been reached in the case of a California man charged with raping and kidnapping a 15-year-old girl who later married him, but jurors are at an impasse on a rape count.
The foreperson of the jury told Orange County Judge Michael Leversen on Thursday that the panel could not reach a verdict on the charge against 42-year-old Isidro Garcia.
Leversen asked jurors to return Friday, when he may provide additional instruction and time for deliberations.
Garcia is charged with rape, kidnapping and three counts of lewd acts on a child.
Prosecutors say Garcia abducted the teenage daughter of his then-girlfriend in 2004 and threatened and beat her when she tried to leave.
She reported Garcia to authorities in 2014.
Garcia's lawyer says the girl left willingly with his client.
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