The San Juan Bautista man arrested earlier this month for
allegedly attempting to kidnap a 16-year-old girl pleaded not
guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge and could face up to a
year in jail if convicted.
Hollister – The San Juan Bautista man arrested earlier this month for allegedly attempting to kidnap a 16-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge and could face up to a year in jail if convicted.
Deputies arrested Paul Dobine, 68, of 1003 Third St. in San Juan Bautista, for attempted kidnapping on March 16 after he allegedly tried to coerce a 16-year-old girl to get into his late-model Ford station wagon three days before, according to San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies.
San Benito County District Attorney John Sarsfield said he reviewed the facts of the case and decided to charge Dobine with misdemeanor harassment instead of felony attempted kidnapping.
“The elements of kidnapping were not there,” Sarsfield said Monday. “He may have scared her, but he neither held nor detained her. And he never used force, he just annoyed her.”
Dobine’s attorney Greg LaForge said his client was innocent.
“Based on the facts, the charges he was arrested on were not warranted,” he said. “Due to the extensive press coverage this has received, the district attorney obviously felt he had to charge my client with something, however, it will be a very difficult charge for the district attorney to prove.”
LaForge declined to comment on why Dobine allegedly ordered the girl into his car.
“Our case will be presented in court,” he said.
Dobine allegedly ordered the girl to get into his car several times while she was walking on Third Street, near Church Street. When she told Dobine that she was walking to work for exercise, he allegedly told her that she “would get plenty of exercise later.”
Dobine again ordered her to get in the car, but when she politely refused again, he got angry. The victim then walked quickly to her work place. Dobine followed her in his car for one block before driving off.
The victim was scared and did not report the incident until Wednesday. Deputies arrested Dobine after the victim positively identified the man, a customer at the place she works. The girl was shaken by the incident, but not injured. Dobine, who has been arrested several times for burglary and check fraud, did not know the victim.
In a statement to police, the victim said she was afraid that if she did not comply with Dobine, she would be hurt or killed.
Dobine was released from San Benito County Jail four days after his arrest and is out on $6,000 bail, according to jail personnel.
While awaiting trial, Dobine will not be allowed to come within 100 yards of the victim or her place of business. If convicted of the harassment charge, Dobine would be required to register as a sex offender, according to court documents.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
