A man was found guilty of kidnapping a woman in San Francisco’s Mission District in 2023, according to prosecutors.
Michael Stortz, 36, was convicted of one count of kidnapping after a jury trial, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said on Thursday.
During the trial, evidence and testimony showed that around 2:15 a.m. on October 3, 2023, Stortz crossed 24th Street near Balmy Street and targeted a young woman who had been on her phone for a few minutes. Prosecutors said he watched her briefly, then grabbed her from behind and dragged her fifty feet down Balmy Street to an area surrounded by metal cages.
Authorities said that after a brief struggle, the victim managed to break free and escape. She reported the incident the next night. On October 4, the San Francisco Police Department found and arrested Stortz.
“I am grateful to the jurors for their service and thoughtful deliberation in this case,” said Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Yang. “I am especially grateful for the victim’s bravery in reporting the crime and testifying, and for the San Francisco Police Department’s diligence in locating and apprehending Mr. Stortz so quickly. Their swift actions made our city safer and ensured justice was done.”
Stortz, who is currently in custody, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27.