Spring Valley Man Pleads Not Guilty in Kidnaping Case

A reputed Spring Valley gang member pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of kidnaping a tourist who has not been seen in nine months.

Percyval Leslie Dryden, 25, is charged with kidnaping 20-year-old Phouvalay Thetsombandith from the 6000 block of Brooklyn Avenue in East San Diego on Aug. 18.

Thetsombandith, a Laotian citizen who lived in Utah, was visiting his uncle, who reported the man’s disappearance to police. Relatives from Utah came to San Diego to search for Thetsombandith, but he was never found.

Witnesses saw Thetsombandith being abducted at gunpoint, investigators said.

The victim was scheduled to fly back to Utah the day he was abducted. His passport and plane ticket were left at his uncle’s home.

“We believe the victim is dead,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Rupert Linley, who told Municipal Judge Harvey Hiber that additional charges are expected to be filed.

If prosecutors file murder charges against Dryden, the case will be unusual because no body has been recovered.

Linley also suggested that Hiber appoint a public defender “qualified to handle capital cases,” suggesting that prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

Linley said Dryden allegedly abducted Thetsombandith because neighbors had told him that a man of Asian descent had burglarized his vehicle the night before. However, the same neighbors reportedly told Linley that Thetsombandith was not the man responsible for the crime.

Although a body has not been recovered, Linley said the additional charges may be filed as early as Tuesday, when defense attorneys will attempt to have a $1-million bail reduced.

Although a complaint against Dryden was filed 11 days after the abduction, he remained a fugitive until arrested on burglary charges in Baltimore about two weeks ago.