Inset: Rahson Govantes (San Bernardino County Sheriff). Background: Sephora at The Shoppes at Chino Hills in California (Google Maps).
California authorities arrested a 28-year-old New York man who allegedly forced a woman to drive across the country with him and made her commit crimes while he abused and tortured her.
Rahson Govantes stands accused of aggravated mayhem, torture, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, the San Bernardino County Sheriff”s Office said in a press release.
Cops began investigating around 2:43 p.m. on Saturday when they responded to The Shoppes at Chino Hills “for a report of suspicious subjects loitering in front of Sephora.” Govantes and the woman were taken into custody, the press release said.
“During the investigation, deputies located several fraudulent identification cards, social security cards, and debit cards,” the statement added.
The 51-year-old victim reportedly told deputies that she “was kidnapped and forced to travel across the country” with Govantes, described as “a 28-year-old resident of New York,” and an “unidentified Black female adult.”
The purpose of the alleged kidnapping, the victim told deputies, was “to commit fraud throughout the United States to repay debts she owed.”
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“During their travels, Govantes and the female suspect tortured and abused the victim by burning her with cigarettes and a curling iron,” the press release said.
The female suspect has not been publicly identified. Cops, who released Govantes’ photo to the public, believe Govantes also may have victimized other women.
Govantes remains in custody at the San Bernardino County Jail without bond.
