Guilty Plea For Kidnapper Whose Ex Gave Birth While Captive

COSTA MESA, CA — An Orange County man pleaded guilty to domestic violence on kidnapping his ex-girlfriend, who gave birth to their son during 11 days of alleged captivity. Now, 36-year-old Juan Manuel Reyes faces an eight-year sentence, an Orange County prosecutor said Wednesday.

Deputy District Attorney Caroline Smith said that Reyes is scheduled to receive an eight-year sentence at a March 8 hearing, but the sentence will run concurrent with another 15-year sentence he received Jan. 19 for leading Costa Mesa police on a chase.

Multiple felony counts including criminal threats, assault, carjacking, kidnapping and false imprisonment are expected to be dismissed as part of the plea deal.
In November, Reyes was convicted at trial for a Sept. 11, 2012, pursuit in Costa Mesa.

Reyes was charged in September 2012 with kidnapping his ex-girlfriend on Aug. 30, 2012, and holding her against her will in various motels in Orange County for 11 days. He allegedly threatened to kill her family if she told anyone, according to Deputy District Attorney Cyril Yu, who filed those charges.

During her alleged captivity, the woman gave birth to the couple's son, according to Yu, who said Reyes took her to a hospital when she went into labor.

She managed to get away from him on Sept. 9, 2012, two days before the police chase, according to Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

City News Service with Patch Editor, Ashley Ludwig

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