Kidnap Suspects’ Bail $2 Million

Two men accused of kidnaping four San Diego State University students at gunpoint were ordered Friday to be held in County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail each.

Timothy Long, 19, a sailor allegedly on unauthorized leave, and Bryan Tanner, 27, of San Diego pleaded not guilty to 12 felony charges stemming from the early-morning incident Wednesday.

Four male students told police they were abducted by two gunmen outside a restaurant in the 4400 block of El Cajon Boulevard about 1:45 a.m.

One student was forced to withdraw money from his bank using his ATM card, but was able to get only $40. The gunmen then took the frightened students to their dormitory, and one student was able to collect $11 from other students to give to one of the robbers.

Campus police spotted the students’ illegally parked car, and Long and Tanner were arrested shortly afterward.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Al Barret said Long had told authorities he was stationed on the dock landing ship Germantown, scheduled to set sail for the Persian Gulf today. Barret said Long had been absent without authorization from the ship for three weeks.

The two men are charged with four counts of kidnaping for robbery, which carry the possibility of life sentences with the possibility of parole. They also face four assault charges, two robbery and two attempted robbery charges.

Municipal Judge Michael Orfield scheduled a bail review hearing for Wednesday and a preliminary hearing for Dec. 13.