16 years in prison for sex offender's attempt to kidnap child

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Rigby has sentenced a would-be kidnapper of an 8-year-old boy to 16 years in state prison.

Michael Bland, of Madera, attempted to take a mother’s son from an apartment complex laundry room on the night of July 24. He reportedly entered the room with them, locked its door, shut off its light, and then grabbed the boy, pulling him outside.

The mother rushed out to take back her son and struggled with Bland, who is 6 foot 1 inch tall and weighs 220 lb. He struck her before letting go of her son. Police officers later found and arrested Bland in the apartment complex. In court, he pled guilty to the felony of kidnapping and was sentenced Nov. 3.

The 31-year-old is a registered sex offender with a prior conviction for a serious felony. Bland reportedly finished a prison sentence in 2012 for lewd acts with a child under 14 years old and had since been a transient.

“No prosecution is possible without evidence,” noted District Attorney David Linn, who then expressed thanks for the investigative work of Madera police and his office’s investigators.

“Additionally, the victim and his mother should be acknowledged for their bravery in standing up to the attacker and their immediate report to law enforcement,” said Linn, who also thanked Norma Alvarez of the Victim Witness Office for her assistance in communicating with the victim’s family.