Huntington Beach : Teen-ager Charged in Abduction of Girl, 3

A kidnaping charge was filed Monday afternoon against a teen-age runaway for allegedly abducting a 3-year-old girl last week, but authorities said they were more concerned about helping the youth than punishing her.

Dana Jennifer O’Hair, 16, was being held in Juvenile Hall after surrendering to police Sunday afternoon. A formal charge was filed in Juvenile Court, Sgt. Jim Dahl said.

“We’re not looking to put her away,” Dahl said. “We’re more concerned that she gets the help she needs. By filing charges we’re keeping her in the system and hope that she gets it.”

O’Hair allegedly abducted Jennifer Lend Ruengsri Thursday morning from her family’s apartment, where the teen-ager had been staying since Sunday. The child was found unharmed at 10 p.m. Friday, wandering alone near Anaheim’s Sage Park. She was reunited with her mother a short time later and was allowed to go home after she was examined at UCI Medical Center in Orange, where doctors found no evidence of physical or sexual abuse, police said.

Dahl said a detention hearing will take place today, at which time a judge will determine whether O’Hair will remain in custody or be released to her parents pending a trial.

“Dana is basically not a bad kid,” Dahl said. “She just basically had everything stacked against her.”