Kidnap Suspect Pleads Innocent

The South Los Angeles woman accused of taking 4-year-old Jessica Cortez from Echo Park and keeping her for two days was charged Thursday with kidnapping.

Patricia Cornejo, 39, pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles County Superior Court to one count of felony kidnapping and one count of felony child stealing.

Wearing a red coat, Cornejo stood behind a glass partition in the downtown Los Angeles courtroom and entered the plea through her attorney. If Cornejo is convicted, she could be sent to state prison for 13 years.

Superior Court Commissioner Jeffrey M. Harkavy set bail at $500,000 and directed her to return to court Aug. 27 for a preliminary hearing. He also ordered her not to have any contact with Jessica or her family.

Jessica disappeared Sunday about 7:30 p.m. while her parents were selling tacos at the park. Authorities first thought she might have drowned and divers scoured Echo Park Lake for her body. Once police realized she had been kidnapped, they issued an “Amber alert.”

Jessica was rescued Tuesday afternoon at St. John’s Well Child Center after clinic employees called police. The employees said they were immediately suspicious of Cornejo, who brought Jessica to be treated for a sore throat.

Cornejo, described by acquaintances as reclusive, was arrested Tuesday night. Deputy Public Defender Cedric Payne represented her during Thursday’s arraignment, but did not comment after the short hearing.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ronald Geltz said that physical and eyewitness evidence shows that Cornejo kidnapped Jessica and planned to keep her away from her parents. Prosecutors have not found any connection between Cornejo and the girl.

“This is alleged as a stranger taking this child with the intent to keep the child permanently,” Geltz said outside court. He declined to elaborate about possible motives for the kidnapping.

Cornejo told investigators that she saw Jessica in the park and took her home, police said. Jessica did not appear to have been physically or sexually harmed, authorities said. Cornejo’s two daughters, ages 4 and 10, were taken into protective custody, police said.

Geltz said he does not expect anyone else to be charged in the case.

Jessica’s parents, Maria Hernandez and Rafael Cortez, did not attend the hearing. Instead, they spent Thursday afternoon in Culver City expressing their gratitude to the health clinic employee who recognized their daughter.

Hernandez and the receptionist, Denise Leon, met with a hug and a burst of tears. Leon also hugged Jessica, who stood in front of a group of photographers, her eyelids fluttering like a camera shutter. The 4-year-old girl wore a pink T-shirt and denim shorts, with pink and white Winnie the Pooh tennis shoes.

Cortez, who came to the United States 13 years ago, said he would probably continue selling tacos at Echo Park. Hernandez, 27, said she would either stay home or find someone to help her watch her four children.

“To everyone, a big hug,” Cortez, 38, said as Jessica blew a kiss to the cameras. Cortez said he was changing the name of his taco cart from “Smoke in Your Eyes” to “Happy Tacos.”