A man who sparked a statewide Amber Alert when he took his year-old son to Mexico after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in San Pedro pleaded not guilty Thursday to attempted murder and other charges.
Giovanny Santiago-Enriquez, 37, is also charged with kidnapping, child custody deprivation and first-degree burglary with a person present, and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sergio C. Tapia ordered Santiago- Enriquez to be held on $1.3 million bail pending his next court appearance April 1.
Santiago-Enriquez was captured about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday when he tried to enter the country through the Otay Mesa border crossing. He presented a driver’s license and Social Security card to immigration authorities, who discovered there was a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of attempted murder, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Jayden Nathaniel Santiago was recovered safely last week in Tijuana, the same day he was allegedly taken by his father. The child’s mother is the defendant’s former girlfriend.
Santiago-Enriquez allegedly entered her home in the 500 block of West 15th Street through an unlocked front door, went into her bedroom and stabbed her new boyfriend several times around 1:30 a.m. March 9, then threw the knife out of his car as he fled.
The ex-girlfriend, whose name was not released, suffered minor injuries trying to prevent Santiago-Enriquez from stabbing her boyfriend, who was seriously wounded, authorities said.
Santiago-Enriquez next went to his home in Long Beach before fleeing with his son, according to police, who said he had primary custody of the child.
According to CBP, Santiago-Enriquez is a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States.
If convicted, Santiago-Enriquez faces up to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
— City News Service