ARIZONA WOMAN FACES LIFE TERM FOR KIDNAPPING.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Staff Writer VENTURA - A 20-year-old Arizona woman faces a life sentence plus nine years in prison when sentenced Oct. 10 for kidnapping kidnapping, in law, the taking away of a person by force, threat, or deceit, with intent to cause him to be detained against his will. Kidnapping may be done for ransom or for political or other purposes. and robbing an elderly Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. woman. Lesaundra Jenkins pleaded guilty Wednesday to those felony charges, as well as one count of felony elder abuse Elder Abuse Definition Elder abuse is a general term used to describe harmful acts toward an elderly adult, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect, including self-neglect. , as her trial was about to get under way, sparing 69-year-old Inge Kleiman from having to testify against her. Jenkins kidnapped Kleiman at a Kmart in Thousand Oaks on Dec. 16 and forced her to drive to two banks, where Kleiman withdrew roughly $1,500 in cash, prosecutors said. Jenkins then forced Kleiman to drive to a nearby United Airlines ticket agency to buy a ticket to Arizona, authorities said. ``(Jenkins) told her she had her at gunpoint,'' said prosecutor Audry Rohn. ``She went with her into the banks and, throughout this whole thing, she kept telling her, `If you tell them, I'll kill you.' The victim was terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. she was going to get killed.'' Jenkins' defense attorney could not be reached for comment. In exchange for Jenkins' plea, prosecutors agreed to drop attempted carjacking The criminal taking of a motor vehicle from its driver by force, violence, or intimidation. The u.s. justice department categorizes the crime of carjacking as a "completed or attempted Robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger and terrorist threat charges, felonies that could have brought a maximum sentence of life plus 16 years. As it stands, Jenkins could be eligible for parole in seven years instead of 20. ``I think she did the right thing,'' said Rohn. ``I think it was a good move on her part to accept responsibility and get the best sentence that she can. She might be out of prison before she's 30. ``It's clear to me she targeted a vulnerable senior citizen whose car was parked in a handicapped parking space. Anytime someone targets disabled or elderly, it's reprehensible rep·re·hen·si·ble adj. Deserving rebuke or censure; blameworthy. See Synonyms at blameworthy. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin repreh .'' Jenkins, who remains in jail with bail set at $250,000, had a clean record prior to the offenses and now has two ``strikes'' against her under the state's ``three strikes'' law, records show. Should she commit another ``strike'' offense upon her release from prison, she would receive a minimum sentence of 25 years to life, Rohn said. |
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