Man pleads guilty to kidnapping, raping 13-year-old who was found with 'help me' sign

LOS ANGELES (TCD) -- A 62-year-old man pleaded guilty in federal court last week to kidnapping a teen girl in Texas and sexually assaulting her several times during a drive to California.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced Friday, Jan. 19, that Steven Sablan entered the plea for one count of kidnapping and admitted to abducting the 13-year-old girl and raping her.

Sablan kidnapped the teen at gunpoint in San Antonio in July 2023. He reportedly told her, "If you don’t get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you."

The girl got in the car and told Sablan she was only 13 years old and mentioned she had a friend in Australia. The U.S. attorney’s office said Sablan told the girl he "could take her to a cruise ship to visit this friend, but she had to do something for him first." Then, he sexually assaulted her.

He reportedly sexually assaulted her at least twice while on the road to California.

Then, on July 9, a bystander called the Long Beach Police Department after the person saw the teen in a parked car holding a sign that said "help me." Officers arrived and made contact with the girl who "was visibly emotional and distressed." They apprehended Sablan and arrested him on charges of kidnapping, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, and fugitive from justice.

Sablan was initially indicted on charges of kidnapping and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

He will be sentenced in October and faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.

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