[KHTS] – A Saugus man charged with kidnapping a young girl from her Newhall home pleaded no contest and was sentenced, a prosecutor said Monday.
Ethan Odom, 37, was sentenced to five years in state prison, and due to state sentencing laws, he’ll have to serve at least 85 percent of that time before he’s eligible for parole, according to Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of kidnapping.
The five-year sentence is considerably shorter than the life in prison Odom was initially face based on the charges.
The prosecution withdrew the charges of first degree burglary with a person present, which is known as a “hot prowl,” and attempted kidnapping for a child under 14.
Officials accused Odom of trying to take another small child hours before the kidnapping of a toddler, but prosecutors felt there was insufficient evidence to prove that charge.
The case earned national attention because of the unusual nature of the allegations. Odom reportedly had no connection to the family of the victim.
Odom walked up to the window, called the girl over and then grabbed her and ran down the street, according to witness accounts.
Family members chased the suspect and were able to regain custody of the girl, as deputies worked to set up a containment of the area. The 3-year-old girl was not harmed.
The alleged abduction, which took place on Arch Street, near the intersection of 5th and Race streets, was reported at 7 p.m. Jan. 8.
While Odom had a lengthy record of drug and theft crimes, he did not have a violent prior on his record, and this will be his first “strike,” Ta said.
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21 Comments
That’s it!!!! That’s ridiculous! It shod be equivalent to murder. If that family didn’t save her right away she could still be missing, by the grace of God she’s not, but really, 5 years. His actions deserve far more than 5 years!
5 years. That girl is probably going to be traumatized for the rest of her life.
Only 5 years?!? While I am very thankful he didn’t take her far and her father chased him down the street and took back his child, I am shocked that he only gets 5 years for that!! So he can be back here to do it again and maybe the child isn’t as lucky the next time around! Absolutely not enough time behind bars for kidnapping a child!!
5 years is nothing what about life????????
We could just hunt him down when he gets out and kidnap him …… Just an idea and my hand is raised as a volunteer
Seriously?
“Family members were able to chase him down…” WHY was he alive and able to stand trial if “family members” caught him.
Well maybe when he gets out and does it AGAIN…. BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE WILL!!!! Maybe just maybe he will get more time!! Horrible to say…. But it really is the sad truth!! Fyi…. Did you know you GET 8 YEARS FOR WRITING A BAD CHECK….. But steal a child with intent for RAPE…. And you ONLY get 5 years!!
Only 5 years? Hmmmm….
No faith in our justice system anymore
Oh wait, I never did
No faith in our justice system anymore
Oh wait, I never did
What a joke
What a joke
What a Joke!!! A Time To K&@).. Just like the movie.
What a Joke!!! A Time To K&@).. Just like the movie.
That’s all? People get caught doing drugs(not selling) get more time then that….but at least he got more time then a pedophile!!!
That’s all? People get caught doing drugs(not selling) get more time then that….but at least he got more time then a pedophile!!!
My son has a disease drug addiction and gets 2 years and this POS gets 5 years???? WTF is wrong with this system!!!!! Not saying my kid didn’t deserve time but kidnaping a child is just 2 years worse than drug addiction? I think not!!!
There’s something really wrong with this broken system smh
Wow… That’s BS! I hope he gets placed in general population and let jailhouse justice take care of this pos….
What if the family hadn’t rescued her? What was his intent? He should not get off easy just because he was unsuccesful.