Man Suspected As Predator Knocked Out By Girl's Dad Appears In Court
RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — A man accused of preying on a 12-year-old girl before her father swooped in to rescue her faced a judge Wednesday.
Scott Stilwell, 27, appeared in court Wednesday still sporting bruises on his face from his showdown with his alleged victim's father.
Stilwell, who is being held on $25,000 bail, allegedly met the 12-year-old girl on social media and trying to whisk her away in the middle of the night.
The suspected predator did not speak except to agree to his next court hearing.
The father of the girl demonstrated Monday how he allegedly caught Stilwell in the act – and even showed off a picture of the suspect after he was knocked to the ground and held for police.
"It was terrible to see him," Tim LeBlanc said. "His bail is too low and he's a monster."
LeBlanc was in court as Stilwell pleaded not guilty. He says his daughter is having a tough time coping with the realization of what happened.
"She's struggling emotionally. She goes through feeling angry, feeling guilt," LeBlanc said. "Now she's worried she's going to be bullied at school.
LeBlanc says his daughter met Stilwell on social media and that he came up from San Diego County. She left her room through the window early Monday morning to meet him.
The vigilant dad says he happened to be up and when he checked on his daughter and couldn't find her, he frantically searched the neighborhood and found the two in an SUV. LeBlanc says Stilwell had his arm around her.
Stilwell's mother left the court without comment and his attorney denies his client had any criminal intentions.
"There's no indication he was there to do any harm to this individual – to the child. And there's no indication he was there to abduct her," said Marc Carlos, Stilwell's attorney.
Stilwell has diagnosed psychological problems, Carlos said.
"He has issues," the attorney said. "He is schizophrenic, among other things."
Stilwell faces the possibility of seven years in prison on three separate charges.