Kidnapper off to prison

Earlier this month, Paul Anthony Lee pleaded no contest to attempted kidnapping and admitted a prior conviction in return for the promise of no more than two years and six months in prison. Judge Stephen Hall also had the discretion to add an extra year in prison for the prior conviction but chose not to do so yesterday. Lee receives credit for 159 days already served and for good behavior.

Lee made the deal June 6 at his pre-trial conference after three months of pleading not guilty. He waived a probation report and moved straight to yesterday's sentencing hearing. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped other charges of stalking, assault by means of force and causing great bodily injury, kidnapping and evading police. If convicted by a jury of all charges, he faced between 12 and 14 years in prison.

Although Lee only admitted one prior stint in prison, he has a long history of arrests for evasion, drugs, weapons and assault. Lee was last arrested early March 7 after confronting his ex-girlfriend the night before. As she exited her car in front of her San Bruno home, Lee grabbed the woman and pulled her into his SUV, according to police. The incident was caught on videotape by one of the family members who were watching with neighbors.

He was arrested shortly before 1 a.m. after police officers spotted his car and chased it into a South San Francisco ditch.

Previously, in December 2001, Lee was arrested for driving while intoxicated, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana and possessing several knives, including a 4.5-inch doubled-edge blade. In July 2002, Lee was arrested on similar drug and weapons charges after methamphetamine and a loaded handgun were found in his Mustang. He was also slapped with resisting arrest, assault of a police officer, evading a police officer with a vehicle and driving while under the influence after leading police on a slow-speed chase to his house.

Uncooperative

Prior to his plea agreement, Lee's mother, Karen, continued to maintain her son's innocence. The victim, too, had become uncooperative with the District Attorney's Office and tried to recant the videotaped version of events, according to prosecutors. Lee had been in custody since his arrest in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.