Two to stand trial in kidnapping, sexual assault of Northridge girl

A judge Wednesday ordered two men accused of kidnapping a 10-year-old Northridge girl from her home this year to stand trial, authorities said.

One of the men, Tobias Dustin Summers, faces about three dozen counts, including sexual assault.

Investigators said Summers, 32, broke into the girl’s house in what may have started out as a burglary the night of March 27, then used a knife to abduct her. She was found about 12 hours later, battered and barefoot, in a parking lot several miles away.

Prosecutors allege that during that time, Summers committed numerous sexual acts on the child and took nude photos of her.

The second man, 30-year-old Daniel Martinez, is accused of waiting outside the house, then briefly driving Summers and the girl before parting ways with them. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.

The child’s disappearance sparked a frantic search that stretched into Mexico, where Summers was ultimately arrested almost a month later.

He had checked into a remote rehabilitation facility under a fake name, authorities said at the time.

Court records show both Summers and Martinez have extensive criminal histories, though authorities said neither is a registered sex offender. Law enforcement records indicate that both were known to use drugs, and that Summers was a member of a gang.

Summers has convictions for receiving stolen property, possession of an explosive and presenting false identification to police, according to records. In 2009, he was convicted of battery.

Both men are scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Oct. 30.

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jill.cowan@latimes.com

Twitter: @jillcowan