Abduction suspect’s preliminary hearing set for June
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Colorado man accused of abducting an 11-year-old girl in Bakersfield won’t have a preliminary hearing until mid-June at the earliest, according to court records.
Joshua Michael Stehle, 29, has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, contacting a minor to commit a sex act and possession of child pornography, among other offenses. He’s being held without bail.
On Monday, a preliminary hearing — in which evidence is presented and a judge decides if the case will proceed — was scheduled for June 14, records show.
On March 17, family of the girl reported her missing around 5:30 a.m., telling authorities they’d last seen her at about 2 a.m. Deputies gathered evidence pointing to Stehle as the suspect, pinged his cellphone and alerted authorities in Utah after learning the device was headed there on Interstate 70, according to court filings.
Stehle’s pickup was stopped near Salina, Utah, with him and the girl inside, the filing says. He was arrested and extradited to Kern County.
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