THOUSAND OAKS : Man, 45, Is Sentenced in Abduction Case

A 45-year-old ironworker was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for abducting his former girlfriend outside her Thousand Oaks church, handcuffing her inside his car and holding her at gunpoint for 90 minutes.

“I am convinced that he is obsessed with her and continues to be obsessed with her,” said Superior Court Judge Allan L. Steele before handing down the sentence to Thomas Robles of Downey.

Keely Okada, the victim, told the judge she feared her former boyfriend would seriously harm her if not sent to prison for a long time. “Tom is capable of much worse than you have seen here,” she said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Maeve Fox said the crime was premeditated.

“Mr. Robles planned this thing to a T,” she told Steele. “He had handcuffs. He had a weapon. . . . He was lying in wait.”

Okada has testified that Robles forced her into his car as she left church near Sandberg Street and Keats Avenue on Dec. 17. She said he put a hand over her mouth because she was screaming. Once in Robles’ car, Okada was handcuffed to the front seat as he drove around Thousand Oaks and Camarillo.

On Monday, Okada said she and Robles had had a relationship that started when he was married. She said she broke off the affair when she learned he was married, but they reunited several months later when he and his wife began divorce proceedings.

Okada said that she and Robles eventually purchased a house together, but she broke off their relationship again because Robles was using drugs. The judge also ordered drug treatment for Robles in prison.

Robles has past convictions for violating restraining orders against visiting his ex-wife and Okada, court records show.