CANOGA PARK : Man Admits Trying to Kidnap Woman

A Kern County man admitted in court Monday that he was attempting to kidnap a Canoga Park woman when she was accidentally shot by her husband as the husband tried to rescue her.

Joe A. Yohn, 27, of Rosamond, pleaded no contest, the legal equivalent of a guilty plea for criminal court purposes, to attempted kidnaping in the July 25 death of Linda Jane Corum, 52.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond said that Yohn, upset over the breakup of a romantic relationship with Corum, went to the Corum house, pulled Linda Corum into his car and sped off.

At a preliminary hearing in September, the woman’s husband, Larry Corum, testified that, fearing Yohn would harm his wife, he fired a warning shot into the air and then fired another into the trunk of Yohn’s car.

Linda Corum died from one bullet in the chest, police said.

Yohn was originally charged with murder under the legal principle that the kidnap attempt caused her death.

But that charge was dismissed Monday in exchange for Yohn’s no contest plea. No charges were filed against Larry Corum.

Diamond said he will recommend that Yohn, who is free on bail, be sentenced to the 90 days already served while awaiting trial.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Leon Kaplan scheduled sentencing for March 10.