A Long Beach man pleaded not guilty today to charges that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 5-year-old girl at a wedding reception in Valencia.
Jeff Boulter, 39, is charged with one felony count each of kidnapping to commit oral copulation, kidnapping for child molesting, kidnapping a victim under 14, forcible lewd act upon a child, lewd act upon a child and attempted forcible oral copulation of a victim under 14 years old, according to Deputy District Attorney Ani Bailey.
Boulter allegedly dragged the girl to a dark corner during the May 19 wedding reception, according to the prosecutor. A server at the wedding noticed the alleged assault and confronted Boulter, who then fled, the prosecutor said. Boulter was arrested early the next day by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, and is behind bars in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records.
He is due back in a San Fernando courtroom July 31, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial. If convicted as charged, Boulter could face a maximum of life in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.