Transient Suspected Of Kidnapping, Assaulting 12-Year-Old Girl

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A 50-year-old transient has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a 12-year-old girl from the front yard of her Central California home and then sexually assaulting her.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office says Luis Angel Ramirez was arrested on Tuesday night after turning himself in at the county jail. The girl was kidnapped on Saturday from her home west of Fresno.

Sheriff's officials say Ramirez took her to a truck parked on the property, gagged her and put tape over her mouth before sexually assaulting her.

According to sheriff's officials, Ramirez was acquainted with the girl's father and threatened to kill her family if she said anything about the assault.

It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.