“He Had a Weird Look on His Face”: Boy Armed With Shovel Fought Off Alleged Kidnapper

Earl Duane Williams, 61, was charged Tuesday of trying to kidnap 13-year-old Anthony Golden's sister Jasmine

A boy armed with only a shovel managed to stop a man from kidnapping his 4-year-old sister from their yard in Lancaster.

Earl Duane Williams, 61, allegedly parked his recreational vehicle near the 300 block of West Kildare Street around noon Saturday and approached the girl, asking her name, according to sheriff's officials and prosecutors. He has pleaded not guilty to charges.

The potential kidnapping was averted by the quick thinking of 13-year-old Anthony Golden, who grabbed a nearby spade before running to his sister Jasmine's rescue.

"He had a weird look on his face, and so that’s when I lift the shovel, ‘cause that’s when I thought he'd do something," Golden said, "He called my sister over here by, like, saying 'little girl come over here. (He) wrapped his arm around her kissed her on top of the head and he lifted her up and started walking out."

"I grabbed my sister's hand and a little bit of his sleeve and I yanked and he jerked and said, "Get off of her!' and then I called my mom out," Golden added.

The family had been decorating for Christmas outside, and the incident happened when their mother Karen Westberg momentarily left her children alone so she could use the restroom. She has warned other parents to be on their guard against potential kidnappings.

"It's not even safe to leave your own children in the yard for not even a moment, ‘cause something like this can happen," Westberg said.

Earl Duane Williams, 61, was charged Tuesday with kidnapping to commit another crime, kidnapping a victim under 14, lewd act upon a child and criminal threats, according to the District Attorney's Office. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and is due back in court Jan. 6. 

According to prosecutors, when Williams was arrested and was being driven away from the scene, he threatened the victim's mother and said he planned to return.

Williams faces up to life in prison if convicted of all counts.

City News Service contributed to this report

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