Man Charged With Kidnapping Girlfriend In Santa Ana
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A 39-year-old man accused of kidnapping and threatening his girlfriend was charged on Monday.
According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Sergio Joaquin Mendoza, of Santa Ana, faced one felony count each of kidnapping and criminal threats, and two counts of domestic battery with corporal injury.
Mendoza also faced a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon, the district attorney added.
Prosecutors accused Mendoza of arguing, punching and forcing his girlfriend on multiple occasions during the time they lived at his grandmother's home.
He also allegedly forced and threatened the victim to sit in his vehicle while he worked.
According to police, Mendoza used a razor blade to carve his first name on the victim's chest on March 22.
His action was part of an alleged agreement he offered to let her leave the home, however, he did not hold up to his end of the agreement.
Mendoza's family reportedly told him to move out of the house.
Later that evening, Mendoza is accused of forcing the victim into his car and holding her against her will while they drove through several parking lots.
During this time he allegedly punched the victim in the face, attempted to strangle her, head-butted her face and held her arm when she attempted to leave the vehicle, authorities said.
At one point, the victim was able to escape and run to a local business where she reported the crime to an employee, who then called 911 on her behalf.
Police located Mendoza hiding in a relative's garage on Thursday, and subsequently arrested him.
According to police, he is currently being held on $100,000 at the Orange County Jail.
If convicted, Mendoza faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison.
He is expected to appear in court for a pretrial on April 8 in Santa Ana.