Texas man accused of kidnapping, raping 13-year-old on way to California gets 35 years
A 63-year-old North Texas man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping a 13-year-old girl he drove from Texas to California in 2023 was sentenced Friday to 35 years in federal prison.
Steven Robert Sablan has been in federal custody since his July 2023 arrest in Long Beach near Los Angeles, according to a Department of Justice news release. Authorities said he sexually assaulted the victim multiple times and used a gun “to threaten and control” her.
“The 35-year sentence imposed ensures this defendant will not have the opportunity to victimize children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally in a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. “There is nothing as important as protecting our young people.”
The 13-year-old victim was walking down a San Antonio street when Sablan approached her in his car and threatened her with a gun, authorities said. He drove the teen to Long Beach in his gray Nissan Sentra and sexually assaulted her multiple times on the way, according to the release.
Once in Long Beach, Sablan left the victim in the car and went to a laundromat to wash their clothes, officials said. The victim wrote “Help me!” on a piece of paper and managed to get the attention of a passerby who called law enforcement.
Officers found Sablan standing outside the car and saw the victim mouth the word “help” from inside, according to court documents. Officers found a black BB gun, a pair of handcuffs and a sign with the words “Help me” when they searched the car.
Sablan was not related to the teen and had no legal custody over her. The Fort Worth and Cleburne police departments assisted with the case.
