6 Plead Not Guilty in Boy’s Kidnapping

Six people pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony kidnapping charges in the abduction of a 3-year-old San Marino boy. Their bail was set at $1 million.

The six people, along with another man, are accused of kidnapping the boy from his San Marino home March 20 and demanding $1.5 million in ransom from his wealthy Asian parents. Prosecutors said the kidnappers threatened to cut off the boy’s fingers. FBI agents and San Marino police rescued the child unharmed Monday.

The six accused are Lung Ly, 23; Kei Chang, 30; Sokkha Khy, 20; Bun Rang Toy, 45; Paul Thim, 16; and Soklah Kanielle Khy, 17. Authorities said the 20-year-old and 17-year-old are the son and daughter of Toy. A seventh defendant, Thom Huyhn, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

Pasadena Superior Court Terry Smerling set the $1 million bail over the protests of Deputy Dist. Atty. Marianne Thompson, who wanted them held without bail.

Some of their lawyers told the judge their clients had no criminal record. The two teenagers were charged as adults under Proposition 21, which was passed in March and gives district attorneys the discretion to prosecute youths suspected of certain violent crimes as adults without a court hearing.

Authorities say the child was abducted by two masked men who broke into a San Marino home, tied up a housekeeper and took the child.

The FBI detained Huyhn on Sunday and caught the others Monday.