LANCASTER – A man and his daughter who allegedly kidnapped a woman in North Las Vegas, then robbed, raped and assaulted her before dumping her in the desert near Edwards Air Force Base were behind bars Friday.
Sheriff’s officials said the victim was abducted from the North Las Vegas area a week ago and was found Wednesday, Nov. 6, by military police who were making their routine rounds outside the Air Force Base.
NBC4, which first reported the alleged abduction and arrests, reported that the suspects covered the woman’s head, nose and mouth with duct tape and dumped her on a remote roadway in the desert. The woman managed to free herself from her bonds, then managed to walk near the military base, the station reported.
Stanley Lawton, 54, and Shaniya Poche-Lawton, 22, were charged with one count each of kidnapping to commit robbery, kidnapping from outside the state, attempted murder and forcible rape, along with three counts each of first-degree ATM robbery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Stanley Lawton was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $4.5 million bail pending his first court appearance on Tuesday, Nov. 12, when his daughter is also due in court for arraignment.
Stanley Lawton was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 6, by deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Palmdale station, and his daughter was arrested early Thursday, jail records show.
At a press conference on Friday, Nov. 8, Sheriff’s Capt. Eduardo Hernandez declined to release too many specifics about the investigation, but said the case could eventually be transferred to the FBI because the victim was taken across state lines.
He said the victim, a woman in her 40s, was abducted in North Las Vegas at gunpoint, then brought to the Palmdale area where she was kept in a room in unknown conditions.
“At some point she was sexually assaulted and left for dead,” he said.
He confirmed that some money was taken from the woman, but he declined to provide specifics.
According to NBC4, when the woman was kidnapped on Nov. 1, she was forced into her own luxury car and made to withdraw money from her bank account. She was initially held captive in Nevada, then placed in the trunk of a car and taken to a location in Palmdale, Channel 4 reported.
There was no word on any other possible motive for the crime beyond possible robbery. Hernandez said the case did not appear to be any type of revenge situation.
It was also unclear why the suspects decided to dump the woman in the desert.
“She’s lucky to be alive,” Hernandez said.
Editor’s Note: An LASD news release lists the suspects’ names as Stanley Lautin and Shania Poach Lautin; however, inmate records list the names as Stanley Lawton and Shaniya Poche-Lawton.
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Elsie Till says
Ok soooo, I guess Tekashi 69 decided to give the police what they wanted. Apparently he ratted out his Nine Trey gang members. Somehow that included Cardi B I guess? I’m skeptical that he has changed though. It looks like he just doesn’t want to pay the price for what he did.
Christy says
Both Stanley Lawton and Shaniya Poche-Lawton are lisred as North Las Vegas resident’s. They crossed State line to dump victim in California desert, apparently they were not aware they were near military base. Victim is lucky to be alive. I’m positive there are more victims and this incident is not first of this sick daddy/daughter duo.
surfside 6 says
This incident is tragic but remember North Las Vegas isn’t blameless in this thing either everybody. After they rudely rejected the new “extended” background check.
Maria says
Lots of things don’t make sense here. The police misspell the names of suspects, use channel 4 report as information, practically defend criminals by saying no other motive except robbery and that it wasn’t a ” revenge ” situation. And didn’t understand why dumped her in desert. ….as opposed to what? Shutting her up for good by ensuring she was dead?
There was another post that said other things about the suspects and victims knowing each other prior to this incident in Palmdale or Lancaster. And why dumped clear over by Edwards???
Cops are hiding something and/ or protecting someone. Why no victim name either. This is one case worthy of investigation , reports, pictures, connections etc
Miserable City says
Lancaster residents are now enriching Las Vegas.
Tim Scott says
Yeah, that’s a new thing…
Oh, wait.
No, people from Lancaster were going to Vegas back in the fifties.
Mark A says
The kidnappers were North Las Vegas residents. Of course, if you had actually read the article in its entirety, you’d have known that.
Instead, you just jump to your Trumpish assumptions and make an a$$ of yourself.