“Help me!”: note saves 13-year-old girl from kidnapping in the United States

A 13-year-old girl was rescued from a kidnapping in Southern California after writing “Help me!” in a note to alert others. A Texas native was arrested.

Steven Robert Sablan, 61, now faces federal kidnapping charges over the case, in which he allegedly pulled a gun on the girl as she walked down a sidewalk in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this month.

Serial Killer That Inspired Series Will Be Released In Nepal | CNN VISION

“If you don’t get in the car with me, I’m going to hurt you,” Sablan told the victim, according to court documents.

Once inside the car, the man allegedly sexually assaulted the girl repeatedly while driving her from Texas to California, as described in the affidavit.

Police said that while Sablan went to a laundromat in Long Beach, Calif., on July 9, the girl held up the note with “Help me!” from inside the suspect’s parked vehicle, prompting a person to call 911.

Long Beach deputies said the girl was “visibly emotional and distressed” when they arrived at the scene.

After checking the vehicle’s license plate, officers discovered that the alleged kidnapper was wanted for robbery in Fort Worth, Texas, and considered armed and dangerous, according to the documents, which also record the man’s prior convictions for robbery and drug possession.

A black handgun, later identified as an airgun, a switchblade and handcuffs were found in Sablan’s vehicle, according to the federal affidavit.

Steven Sablan was formally charged by a grand jury this week with allegedly abducting and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

He is due to be indicted on the charges later this month, the US Department of Justice announced on Thursday. A CNN tries to contact Sablan’s lawyers.

If convicted of both counts, he could face a sentence of up to life in prison.

*Claire Colbert, from CNN contributed to this report