Man arrested for rape, kidnapping of 13-year-old in West Valley City

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A man was arrested on rape and kidnapping charges in West Valley City on Sunday, according to West Valley City Police.

Leonardo Alfonzo Cooch Baqui, 18, was arrested in Salt Lake County on three counts of rape of a child (first-degree felony) and one count of child kidnapping (first-degree felony).

On July 23, the mother of a 13-year-old girl contacted police about a sexual encounter between her daughter and an 18-year-old male, later identified as Baqui. Police conducted a forensic interview with the girl.

The child told police that in one incident, Baqui went to her room and forced her to eat food, which she claimed “made her feel dizzy,” court documents state. The girl told officers that Baqui then forced her to take her clothes off and proceeded to sexually assault her.

The girl stated that a few days later, Baqui messaged her telling her to come outside of her home or he would enter by force. She told police she went outside to his vehicle and Baqui assaulted her again. She said that when Baqui wasn’t paying attention, she was able to unlock the car door and run inside the residence.

Police obtained a search warrant for the girl’s Instagram account and found that she and Baqui “appear to be involved in a relationship.” They reportedly stated they loved each other, and that they hoped God will protect their relationship.

On Oct. 12, officers responded to an abduction in progress. Baqui had allegedly gone to the girl’s mother’s place of work and took the child by force. Details regarding how the child was located were not provided, but the child later told police that she had gone outside while helping her mom with work and Baqui picked her up in his vehicle and “took her to the store,” court documents state.

In an interview with police, Baqui reportedly admitted to having sex with the girl three separate times around four to five months prior, when Baqui would have already been 18 years old. He also told police that he knew the girl’s mother did not want them to be in a relationship.

“[Baqui] states that he does not believe that he is doing anything wrong, and that he loves her,” court documents state.

No further information is available at this time.