A Newhall man, possibly in the country illegally, is being held in county jail on suspicion of 19 felony counts, including sexual assault, kidnapping and attempted murder of his live-in companion.

Samuel Hernandz, 26, was arrested Sunday in the Gorman area after a three-day episode of alleged domestic violence that began in Newhall.

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Sgt. Kevin Blake of the Santa Clarita Valley station said that deputies received a call from the Kern County Sheriff’s office on Sunday advising them that they had Hernandz in custody.

Without revealing details that might compromise the investigation, Blake said that some time during the three days, Hernandz took the victim, a female with whom he had been living, up to the Gorman-Lebec area against her will. The victim was able to escape and went to a local business and asked them to call the police.

Kern County deputies responded and arrested Hernandz, who was transferred to Los Angeles County custody.

District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons told KHTS that the victim, who is 18, was trying to break up with Hernandz. He is accused of stabbing her, beating her, sexually assaulting her several times and in several locations over a three-day period.

On Tuesday, he made an appearance in San Fernando Superior Court, where he was charged with 19 felony counts. He has not yet entered a plea.

He is being held at Twin Towers jail in downtown Los Angeles, where his bail is listed as $5,250,000; he is also under a no-bail hold issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Gibbons explained that the court considers two things when bail amounts are set; whether the suspect poses a danger to the community or if they are a significant flight risk. She said that her office is prepared to argue both of those points in future court sessions.

If convicted, Hernandz faces life in prison, with a possibility of parole.