A Texas man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping a 13-year-old girl at gunpoint and driving her to California while repeatedly raping her learned his fate this week in federal court.

Steven Robert Sablan, 63, was sentenced to 35 years in prison, KTLA reported.

The teen girl was rescued on July 9, 2023, when she flashed a “help me” note to a passerby while Sablan was in a laundromat washing clothes, as CrimeOnline reported. The passerby called police and saw the girl inside the car, mouthing “help” to them.

Police took Sablan into custody and found a BB gun, the “help me” note, and handcuffs in the car.

Sablan had abducted the girl from San Antonio three days earlier, waving the gun and telling her he’d hurt her if she didn’t comply. He raped her several times as they drove to Long Beach. The girl was reported as a runaway in San Antonio.