Three men have been charged in connection with the kidnapping of a West Valley boy last week.
Rogelio Alvarez, 20, Angel Popoca-Mauro, 26, and Joel Vasquez-Gomez, 18, each face one count of child kidnapping, a first-degree felony, in connection with the kidnapping of Luis Velasquez, 6, who was abducted as he and his sister, Mirella Velasquez, walked to school May 8. The suspects, who are illegal immigrants, are each being held in the Salt Lake County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.All three suspects have admitted to authorities that they "seized and transported" the victim "against his will, and kept him hidden from his parents," according to 3rd District Court charges filed Tuesday.
Velasquez was kidnapped a few blocks away from Pioneer Elementary School, 3860 S. 3380 West, West Valley City. The boy was taken into a car and duct-taped around the wrists, ankles and mouth. He was also blindfolded and left in a deserted car in front of a West Salt Lake bar.
The kidnappers called the boy's family and demanded $50,000 in ransom. The boy, however, was found by a couple and returned to his family before the kidnappers returned to him.
Police arrested Alvarez, Popoca-Mauro and Vasquez-Gomez later that evening after they checked on the car where the boy had been left.
Velasquez and his sister identified three people at a police lineup later that night.