ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — A man accused of kidnapping a 19-year-old from outside an Orange County Target appeared before a judge Wednesday morning and was denied bond. The 19-year-old victim had been shopping for Mother's Day gifts inside Target.
SUSPECT IN CUSTODY: See Images | Raw Video DOCUMENTS: Criminal History | Arrest Report
Steve Cahanding is facing a total of seven charges. Investigators said Cahanding kidnapped the woman outside the Target store at the corner of University Boulevard and Goldenrod Road ( see map ), then took her to his apartment and raped her. Deputies said he also forced her to withdrawal money from her account.
WFTV obtained Cahanding's arrest report and criminal history report Wednesday (Criminal History | Arrest Report).
In the arrest report, the victim told investigators that Cahanding said, "I didn't mean to rape you, it just happened."
She also told investigators that after she took out some money she told Cahanding," You got you're money, now let me go."
Cahanding didn't say much and even kept his head down during most of Wednesday's hearing. Cahanding faces seven charges so serious he did not get bond. Wednesday, he requested a public defender and does qualify for one, but he'll remain behind bars at the Orange County jail until his next court date.
"There is probably cause for each of these seven counts, bond on each seven counts is none," the judge said.
Cahanding was silent with his head bowed as he stood before the Orange County judge. The 41-year-old man is accused of abducting a 19-year-old woman at gunpoint from a Target store Tuesday afternoon, forcing her into her own car and blindfolding her on their drive to his apartment. Once there, officers said, Cahanding raped her. For that, he faces five counts of sexual battery with a deadly weapon.
Orange County detectives said he then drove her to at least two banks forcing her to withdrawal money. It was at a Bank of America she was able to get help.
"She said, 'Don't look at the guy in the car. He has a gun and told me I had to withdraw money. Please don't look at him, please don't look at him,'" said Lt. Carlos Espinosa, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Bank employees called 911 and that is when deputies say Cahanding led them on a chase down SR-417, University Boulevard, Goldenrod Road and Aloma Avenue until law enforcement was finally able to box-in Cahanding's stolen car on Palm Avenue. That is where he was arrested. Investigators also found money and a gun inside the car.
Lt. Espinosa was the first person to see the victim after her horrifying ordeal came to an end.
"Obviously, I think she's been held by this guy for a couple of hours, from what I understand. She was very upset. Anytime you get taken against your will from a parking lot where you're expected to go grocery shop or buy some gifts for Mother's Day or whatever she was doing. Guy's got her with a gun, ends up abducting her and forces her to take money out. That's pretty scary," Lt. Espinosa said.
Cahanding's charges with armed kidnapping, robbery with a firearm and aggravated fleeing to avoid prosecution.
Bank customers were stunned to learn what the young woman had been through during the two and a half hour terrifying ordeal Tuesday afternoon.
"Bad people are always around. We just have to be more careful," bank customer Nellie Camacho said.
Investigators said Cahanding is a husband and father whose family lives in California. He also has a Florida home.
WFTV has requested the surveillance video from the Target store and the 911 call made by several eyewitnesses and hopes to have it sometime Wednesday.