Man pleads guilty to kidnapping woman in Irvine

A man pleaded guilty Wednesday and was immediately sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for his part in the kidnapping of an Irvine woman to extort money from her family.

George Armando Medrano, 36, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, burglary and attempted extortion, all felonies. Medrano, who has been in custody since his arrest Aug. 31, 2019, was sentenced to 13 years and eight months in prison, according to court records.

Co-defendant Ezra Schley, 73, pleaded guilty to burglary in October and is awaiting sentencing July 15. Co-defendants Yang “Rose” Wang, 39, of Huntington Beach and Reha Soylular, 58, of Newport Beach, are awaiting trial.

The four allegedly kidnapped the victim, identified as Jane Doe, from her apartment Aug. 28, 2019, and then demanded a large sum of money from her husband and mother-in-law for her safe return, according to Kimberly Edds, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney’s office.

The defendants sent the victim’s family photos of her through an online app, Edds alleged. The victim was “previously acquainted” with at least one of the four, she said, but she did not elaborate on why the woman was targeted in what was characterized as an “isolated incident.”

The woman was rescued by Irvine police after her mother-in-law called to request a welfare check, according to the district attorney’s office.

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