17 News @ Sunrise 04/05/2024

Some of today's top storiesWe are getting our first look this morning at a man accused of abducting an 11-year-old Bakersfield girl and taking her to Utah. 29-year-old Joshua Stehle {stay-lee} of Colorado was extradicted to Kern County on Tuesday.    He faces several charges including kidnapping and child molestation.    The girl was reported missing last month, and when deputies searched a computer at her home, they say they discovered the two had an online relationship.     The two were later found in Utah.    Stehle's arraignment was postponed yesterday.    He is being held without bail.We are learning more this morning about Vince Fong's legal battle to run for congress.    Oral arguments got underway in Sacramento yesterday... and we could find out his fate... by next week. Shirley Weber... California's chief elections official... is appealing a ruling which allowed Fong to be on the primary ballot for two offices... his current state assembly seat and for congressional district 20.  Last fall... Fong initially filed to run for re-election in the state assembly.But soon after... Bakersfield's Kevin McCarthy resigned from congress... and Fong entered a bid to run for that position.   Weber disqualified Fong... saying he can't run for two offices at once. However, Fong filed suit.  Weber's team says Fong's dual candidacy could set a confusing precedent.One of their proposed solutions? Removing Fong from the November ballot. Fong was the top vote getter in the primary... with 42-percent of the votes districtwide. Fong's team says the appeal is quote "overripe and moot."    The justices have 90 days to issue a ruling... but Weber has asked for a decision by April 12-th -- a week from today -- when she has to certify the results of the primary election. Five people are under arrest this morning after an illegal gambling raid in east Bakersfield.     It happened around 5 last night inside a shack-like building on North Baker Street.     KCSO says deputies found evidence of illegal gambling inside the building.     They say the five arrested also had outstanding warrants. And we are learning a former Bakersfield civil servant has died. That man, Ken Vetter, died March 25th, according to his family.    He was 95 years old.    Vetter served on the Bakersfield City Council in the late '60s and was a member of the Bakersfield Police Commission for four decades.     Funeral services for Ken Vetter pending.