South Coast Man Sentenced To 11 Years For Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend

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A Santa Maria judge sentenced Joseph Hetzel to 11 years in state prison on Thursday, for a 2017 kidnapping in Solvang.

Hetzel also faces a 10-year criminal restraining order and more than $1800 in restitution fines.

Hetzel was accused of kidnapping Virginia Paris in September of 2017 as she left her workplace in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Hetzel and Paris had met briefly and dated earlier in the year before the abduction took place.

The victim accused Hetzel of raping her and trying to marry her while he was on the run.

Investigators say that the Lompoc Valley man took Paris to Arizona, before being apprehended in Las Vegas three days later.

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Andy worked at KCLU from 2016 until 2022.