Suspect in 11-year-old’s abduction pleads not guilty
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Colorado man accused of kidnapping an 11-year-old Bakersfield girl pleaded not guilty Thursday to eight felony counts.
Joshua Michael Stehle pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, contacting a minor to commit a sex act and possession of child pornography, among other offenses. He’s represented by attorney Mark Anthony Raimondo.
Stehle, 29, is being held without bail and is due back in court April 22.
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On March 17, family of the girl reported her missing around 5:30 a.m., telling authorities they’d last seen her at about 2 a.m.
Deputies spoke with her friends and learned about a much older man who planned to marry her, according to a court filing. They gathered more information, pinged the suspect’s cellphone and alerted authorities in Utah after learning it was headed there on Interstate 70.
Stehle’s pickup was located near Salina, Utah, with him and the girl inside, the filing says. He was arrested and extradited to Kern County.
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