Bay Area Dad Faces Trial For Kidnapping Kids, Stealing Boat
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (CBS / AP) -- A 43-year-old father is set to stand trial on charges that he kidnapped his two young children and took them away on a stolen yacht.
Christopher Maffei pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges including kidnapping, burglary and child endangerment. He was also denied a request to contact his 3-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.
Prosecutors said Maffei took his son and daughter from their mother's South San Francisco home and took them on a 41-foot boat he had stolen from an Alameda marina.
Authorities found the yacht after it ran out of fuel and escorted the vessel to Santa Cruz Harbor. The kids were not hurt and Maffei was taken into custody.
A jury trial has been set for May 28.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
