Crime & Safety

Kidnapping Charges Against Couple Arrested With Teenage Girls

Mahender and Helen Singh face charges of kidnapping with intent to sexually assault, which carries a potential life sentence, the district attorney's office said.

The San Mateo County District Attorney is bringing kidnapping charges against a husband and wife who were arrested Aug. 20 at the South San Francisco  at 326 S. Airport Boulevard on suspicion of forcing three teenage girls into prostitution.

according to South San Francisco police.

Arriving officers found a 19-year-old woman and two 16-year-old girls in a room at the hotel, police said.

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The room was registered to 40-year-old Mahender Singh, who was found in another room at the hotel, police said.

Singh and the three girls were taken into custody after police found condoms, lingerie and counterfeit bills in the rooms.

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During questioning, all three girls said they were being forced into prostitution by Singh and his wife, Helen Singh, 22, of Sacramento, police said. Police discovered ads for the three girls on myredbook.com, according to Karen Guidotti, chief deputy district attorney.

Helen Singh was found at the hotel and arrested along with her husband. 

Mahender and Helen Singh were booked into San Mateo County Jail for human trafficking under the age of 18, pimping, pandering and conspiracy.

, but police arrested them again when the district attorney decided to file charges of kidnapping with intent to sexually assault, which carries a potential life sentence, Guidotti said.

Mahender and Helen Singh were booked into the San Mateo County Jail again on Wednesday and appeared in court on Thursday. They will have a defense attorney assigned to them and appear again in court on Sept. 7 to enter a plea, Guidotti said.

-Bay City News contributed to this report.


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