Would-be kidnapper of South Philly girl sentenced

The would-be kidnapper of a 10-year-old South Philadelphia girl was sentenced today to 17 years in prison.

According to the District Attorney's office, the girl was on her way home from buying water ice on July 17, 2012, with her two-year-old brother.  Carlos Figueroa-Fagot pulled alongside in his car on the 2400 block of Lee Street. Figueroa-Fagot got out of his car, picked up the girl and covered her mouth to mute her screams for help.  As he wrestled her to his vehicle,  the girl's little brother stood frozen crying.

The girl broke free and began to run away. But realizing she had left her little brother behind, she ran back, grabbed her brother and led him to safety, a D.A.'s spokeswoman said in a statement. Figueroa-Fagot returned to his car and fled the scene. Surveillance cameras captured in the incident on video.

The surveillance video was broadcast across the nation. Two days later, at the urging of his family, Figueroa-Fagot surrendered himself to police.

In September, Figueroa-Fagot, 35, was found guilty of attempted kidnapping, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault and related counts.

"This defendant almost got away with every parent's worst nightmare and Judge [Alice] Dubow has wisely removed him from our streets for the next several decades," said Assistant District Attorney Branwen McNabb.