A paroled sex offender who led law enforcement on a 100-mile RV pursuit that went through Santa Clarita returned to court Wednesday, officials said.
Stephen Houk, 47, is charged with two counts of kidnapping, child abuse, injuring a spouse and child detention, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Houk allegedly kidnapped his own children following a domestic violence incident on May 1, leading to a pursuit spanning two counties, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
After a two-day manhunt, Houk was arrested at a Barstow rail yard on May 3, according to officials.
Houk is a registered sex offender out of the state of Oregon who was on parole for a sex offense, according to the LASD.
The suspect led law enforcement on two separate pursuits after a domestic disturbance incident in Valencia.
Houk’s two children, a 3-year-old and an 11-month-old, were inside the motorhome during the pursuit, according to the LASD.
The first chase began around 10 a.m. on May 1, when Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies attempted a traffic stop on a 1989 Dolphin RV, said Sgt. Brian Shreves.
“Deputies attempted to pull the RV over, then the driver took off,” said Shreves. “We called off the pursuit shortly after due to public safety.”
The motorhome was later found in the Hollywood area around 2:30 p.m. by the Los Angeles Police Department.
LAPD officers attempted to pull the RV over, and the driver led law enforcement on the second chase from Hollywood to Bakersfield.
The motorhome then drove northbound on the 170 Freeway past the San Fernando Valley up Interstate 5, according to the LAPD.
The chase ended on a dirt road in Shafter around 6:15 p.m. north of Bakersfield in Kern County, according to CHP.
The two children were safely recovered from the vehicle, but Houk was nowhere to be found, leading to a manhunt.
Houk was located by law enforcement about 150 miles away, in a rail yard in Barstow, two days later.
Houk is set to return to court on July 23 for a continuation of his pretrial hearing.
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