Four people have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and torture of a man and woman for several days inside a medical marijuana shop in east Bakersfield, sheriff’s officials said.

The man and woman were restrained against their will, beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted last week inside the business in the 700 block of Sterling Road, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

The man reported the ordeal to deputies on Sept. 8 and told them he was the victim of a kidnapping. Details on how he got away were not released.

When deputies went to the business, they found the woman and three suspects, authorities said. KERO-TV reported the shop was a medical marijuana supply store.


Sexual assault detectives recovered evidence to support the man’s report, sheriff’s officials said.

Detectives arrested Alexis Marie Pule, 18; Jessi Giron-Miranda, 27; and Ingo Gonzalez, 35, on Sept. 8 on suspicion of kidnapping.

Giron-Miranda and Gonzalez also were booked for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, torture, making threats and sex-related offenses, sheriff’s officials said.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>


The fourth person, Norik Ter-Galstanyan, was arrested on the same offenses Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Russia, the sheriff’s office reported. He was being held on $5-million bail.

Pule is being held on $500,000 bail. Giron-Miranda remains in custody on $1-million bail, and Gonzalez is being held on $2-million bail.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.



ALSO


California fire updates: Valley fire has grown, but rain has come

Authorities to investigate Pasadena drone crash that injured baby in stroller

L.A. renters, landlords should split cost of quake retrofitting equally, housing officials say