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16-year-old California girl believed to be taken by sexual assault suspect found in Idaho

Deputies in California pinged the girl’s phone after she contacted her family, which showed she was in the Kamiah area.

KAMIAH, Idaho — A 16-year-old Turlock girl allegedly taken by a man facing sexual assault charges was found in Idaho, officials said.

The suspect was arrested by the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office after Idaho County dispatch received information on his whereabouts from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, according to a news release from the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office.

A Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office detective advised Idaho County deputies the girl contacted her family, and authorities pinged her phone, revealing she was in the Kamiah, Idaho area, according to a news release.

ABC10 previously reported the girl was last seen around 3 a.m. Aug. 27, 2023, along the 200 block of West F Street in Turlock wearing black leggings and a blue shirt. 

Deputies in Idaho County said they found Cristian Ceja, 27, and the girl in a trailer outside of a home. The girl was taken into protective custody, and Ceja was arrested, Idaho County deputies said.

Ceja was booked into the Stanislaus County jail and faces sexual assault charges, jail records show. His bail is set at $500,000, according to jail records.

Additional charges may be pending out of both Idaho County and California, authorities said.

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