A man accused of attempting to kidnap a 17-year-old girl in Malibu last June is set to go to trial on April 10, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.Â
The suspect, 28-year-old Alexis Fantauzzi, has been charged with felony kidnapping to commit another crime, kidnapping while carjacking, vandalism, annoying or molest a child and attempting to escape from arrest. He’s been held on $2 million bail at Twin Towers Correctional Facility near Downtown Los Angeles since his arrest last year. His trial is set to take place at LAX Courthouse.
According to a police report, Fantauzzi forced his way into the victim’s car as she waited at a stoplight at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way during the early hours of June 12.
He then reportedly forced his way into the driver’s seat of the car and drove around for several hours before stopping to get gas.Â
Two bystanders are credited with helping save the girl.Â
After seeing the victim was visibly upset, Michael Miller confronted Fantauzzi at the gas station and told him to release the girl. Fantauzzi refused and drove away, prompting Miller to call 911.
Joseph Evans had been filling up on gas during the confrontation and he felt that the situation would be resolved with police involvement. He left the gas station, driving towards Kanan Dume Road on his way to work. A short while later he saw the car with the man and the young girl pulled over on the side of the road. Evans called the police again and updated them on the assailant’s location. Until the police arrived and tracked down the car, Evans followed the kidnapper up and down Kanan and PCH, making sure the young girl was safe until police arrived.