Man Charged in Girl’s Rape and Kidnapping
Prosecutors filed formal rape and kidnapping charges Monday against a house painter who allegedly forced a 13-year-old girl into his van as she walked to Robert Fulton Middle School last week, the Los Angeles County district attorney said.
Ulrich Mejia, 32, of Van Nuys was charged with one count each of kidnapping, rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration with a foreign object, making criminal threats and three counts of aggravated assault of a child with special allegations, including use of a deadly weapon and kidnapping for sex. He is being held on $4-million bail and faces multiple life terms if convicted.
Mejia, who will be arraigned on Nov. 10, was arrested Thursday. The girl escaped after she was raped, police said.
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