San Diego man faces kidnapping and child molestation charges after luring student into vehicle

Delaeno Moorman faces charges for kidnapping and molesting a 12-year-old girl in Bay Terraces after luring her into his car during her walk home from school.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 3:33 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The San Diego Union-Tribune

Arraignment and Legal Proceedings

Delaeno Moorman, age thirty-five, appeared in San Diego Superior Court on Friday to face serious felony charges including kidnapping for child molestation and forcible lewd acts on a child. During the court appearance, the defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all counts. Judge Kimberlee Lagotta significantly increased the initial bail amount from one hundred thousand dollars to two million dollars following the presentation of the case details. The proceedings mark the start of the legal process for a crime that has concerned the local community in the Bay Terraces area.

Abduction and Escape Details

The incident began on Tuesday afternoon when a twelve-year-old girl was walking home from school. According to reports from the San Diego police, the suspect approached the child in a vehicle and coerced her into entering the car. Investigators noted that the suspect was a stranger to the victim. The young girl was held inside the moving vehicle for a significant amount of time, during which the suspect allegedly attempted to touch her in an inappropriate manner. The ordeal ended when the girl managed to exit the vehicle and seek safety at a residence located nearby.

Law Enforcement Response and Recovery

The San Diego Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit utilized modern technology to identify and locate the individual involved in the abduction. Detectives tracked the suspect by analyzing GPS location data and utilizing automated license plate readers positioned throughout the city. These tools allowed officers to find the unoccupied vehicle used in the crime. Following the identification of the car, law enforcement officers successfully apprehended the suspect on Wednesday morning. The rapid deployment of digital tracking resources was cited as a primary factor in the swift resolution of the search.