By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
A Florida man has been arrested on suspicion of three federal crimes related to the disappearance of a 14-year-old Bakersfield girl who was found Tuesday in Sacramento.
David Charles Zastrow, 51, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., is accused of traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in elicit sexual conduct, enticing a minor and kidnapping, according to a federal Department of Justice news release. Zastrow's son, Christopher Zastrow, 21, also was arrested and booked into Sacramento County Jail accused of child concealment.
The complaint affidavit alleges that David Zastrow befriended the victim's family and shared an apartment with the girl and her mother in Florida. The alleged victim and her mother moved to Bakersfield in February. Shortly thereafter, David and Christopher Zastrow put their belongings in storage and arranged to take the girl from her mother in Bakersfield, according to the news release. Officials said the plan included smuggling a cell phone to the girl so she could have unlimited communication with David Zastrow.
On March 17, the girl disappeared from her Bakersfield home and was found at a hotel in the Sacramento area late Tuesday, the news release says. She is now in the care of Child Protective Services, and is being interviewed and evaluated.
Tuesday's arrests followed an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the FBI's Violent Crime Squad and Task, Force, with assistance from the Kern County Sheriff's Office, Sacramento Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff's Office in Florida.
If convicted, David Zastrow faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for crossing state lines with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, according to the news release. Enticing a minor carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and maximum of life with a fine of up to $250,00, and kidnapping has a potential life sentence and fine of up to $250,000.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
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