Man, 21, Accused of Kidnapping, Rape

A Sylmar man has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and attempting to rape a 14-year-old girl on her way to school, authorities said Wednesday.

Carlos Martinez Gomez, 21, allegedly forced the Newhall student into his car as she walked to William S. Hart High School on Tuesday morning, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Cortland Myers of the Santa Clarita station.

He said Martinez, an acquaintance of the girl’s family, approached her about 7:30 a.m. near the school at Newhall Avenue and 15th Street.

“Martinez said he wanted to talk to her about something, and she didn’t want to go with him, and that’s when he grabbed her,” Myers said.

Martinez allegedly drove the girl, a ninth-grader, to Sylmar, where he fondled her and attempted to rape her, Myers said, adding that the girl persuaded him to take her back to Newhall, where she escaped in a church parking lot on Lyons Avenue.

“She ran out of the car when Martinez stopped . . . and then called police,” said Myers.

Martinez was arrested about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

He was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, attempted rape, sexual battery and possession of narcotics, which were found during his arrest, authorities said. He is being held at the Santa Clarita station in lieu of $100,000 bail, Myers said.

Martinez is scheduled to be arraigned today, he said.