A man who kidnapped his ex-girlfriend in Solvang, prompting a manhunt across three states, was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in state prison.
Joseph Hetzel pleaded guilty last month to kidnapping in exchange for the prison sentence. In court Thursday, the judge ruled Hetzel must also pay $170,000 in restitution to the victim, Virginia Paris.
In 2017, Hetzel kidnapped Paris and took her to Las Vegas. After three days, she escaped by telling a hotel clerk she was a kidnapping victim. The clerk called police and Hetzel was arrested.
This is Hetzel’s second strike. He has a felony conviction from 2006.
Paris did not speak during the sentencing.
