East Bay couple accused of robbing men lured with sex ads

Alexander Nejat and Katherine Stump allegedly robbed robbed a man who had responded to Stump’s online ad, Santa Clara County sheriff's investigators say. Alexander Nejat and Katherine Stump allegedly robbed robbed a man who had responded to Stump’s online ad, Santa Clara County sheriff's investigators say. Photo: Santa Clara Sheriff Photo: Santa Clara Sheriff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close East Bay couple accused of robbing men lured with sex ads 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

An East Bay couple are in custody for allegedly robbing two men in Cupertino and Pleasanton after the victims responded to online ads, including at least one advertising sex, authorities said Friday.

Alexander Nejat, 24, of Dublin and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Katherine Stump of Danville, may be responsible for other robberies in which victims who responded to online ads for escort services were instead robbed, investigators said.

Authorities have so far tied the couple to two robberies.

The first happened April 5, when a Cupertino man, responding to an online ad, met a woman and a man later identified as the suspects, said Santa Clara County sheriff’s Sgt. James Jensen.

The couple met the victim two blocks from his home before driving him back to the residence on Greenleaf Drive, Jensen said.

There, Stump threatened the victim with a knife, and Nejat pepper-sprayed him in the face, authorities said. The couple allegedly stole electronics, prescription drugs, money and other items collectively worth $7,500.

The suspects forced the victim into their car and released him less than a mile away, authorities said. The victim helped investigators complete a sketch of the suspects, which was issued to other law enforcement agencies — and ultimately linked them to a second robbery nine days later in Pleasanton.

Pleasanton police Detective Brandon Stocking recognized the couple as the ones he had arrested for allegedly robbing a man who had responded to an ad on Backpage.com for male escort services, authorities said.

In that case, the victim met Nejat — who he believed was a male escort — and paid him $150 after meeting him at a Pleasanton hotel on April 14, police said. But no rooms were available, and the victim asked for his money back.

Instead, Nejat pepper-sprayed the victim in the face, telling him, “I’m not going to give you the money,” police said.

Stocking wrote in court documents that he cracked the case after he found a Craigslist ad for a tablet computer posted by somebody using the same phone number as the Backpage.com ad.

Stocking arranged to meet the seller at the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton. There, he detained Nejat, who was on probation, and a search of his phone showed calls between his phone and the victim’s phone, as well as “regular communications” between Nejat and Stump “in which they posted prostitution ads and met with victims to rob them,” the detective wrote.

“On the night of the robbery, texts show Stump was in Nejat’s vehicle acting as a getaway driver and instructed Nejat to also take (the victim’s) wallet from him,” Stocking wrote.

The victim positively identified Nejat, who acknowledged placing the ad but claimed that the victim sexually assaulted him, prompting Nejat to spray him in self-defense, police said.

Alameda County prosecutors have charged Nejat and Stump with second-degree robbery. Nejat, who has prior convictions for child abuse and assault with a deadly weapon, was also charged with possession of tear gas by a prohibited person.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twtiter: @henryklee