Woman charged with kidnapping 9-year-old playing outside in front yard of Twentynine Palms home
A 44-year-old woman was arrested after being accused of kidnapping a 9-year-old girl while she was playing in the front yard of a home in Twentynine Palms.
The incident was reported on the afternoon of Nov. 20.
According to the Morongo Basin Sheriff Station, as the 9-year-old was outside, a woman grabbed her and forcefully pulled her away from her house.
The girl's father was able to stop the suspect before she took the girl away from the house. The father stopped the suspect from fleeing until responding deputies arrived, authorities said.
The suspect was identified as Jennifer Penaflor. Authorities confirmed that she and the nine-year-old did not previously know each other.
Penaflor was charged with kidnapping, according to county court records. She remains in custody at the Morongo Basin Jail on $80,000 bail.
She was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Morongo Basin Station at (760)-366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78 CRIME(27463) or may leave information at www.wetip.com
