District Attorney Gascón Announces Charges Against Father of Missing Girl in Monterey Park
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on July 30, 2024, that Jeffrey Chao has been charged with allegedly stealing and hiding his 15-year-old daughter and falsely reporting her as missing.
The incident began on the evening of July 16, when Chao reported his daughter missing from Monterey Park. According to his report, she had vanished from the El Sereno area. Surveillance footage later showed her riding a bike after leaving Chao’s house.
For the next seven days, extensive search efforts involving law enforcement and community members were conducted to locate the girl, based on Chao’s false report.
The search concluded on July 23 when the Glendale Police Department found the girl in Glendale near a TV news station. She was spotted by a passing driver. Shortly after her return, Chao held a news conference to thank those involved in the search, expressing his concern for his daughter’s safety. At that time, his attorney claimed there was no evidence of foul play or kidnapping.
However, further investigations revealed that Chao had allegedly stolen and concealed his daughter, which led to the current charges against him.
Charges and Legal Details
Jeffrey Chao is charged with:
- One count of felony child stealing/concealment under California Penal Code Section 278.
- One misdemeanor count of false report of an emergency under California Penal Code Section 148.3.
Child Stealing/Concealment: This charge applies because Chao allegedly took and hid his daughter, inducing others, including a minor, to participate in the act. According to the allegations, on the evening of July 16, Chao reported his daughter missing from Monterey Park. However, investigations revealed that he had allegedly concealed her whereabouts. Surveillance footage showed her riding a bike after leaving Chao’s house, and she was later found near a TV news station in Glendale. This act of hiding his daughter and misleading authorities fits the criteria under California Penal Code Section 278, which is a felony offense punishable by up to four years in state prison.
False Report of an Emergency: Chao is accused of falsely reporting his daughter as missing, which diverted law enforcement resources away from other serious matters. On July 16, Chao contacted law enforcement to report his daughter missing, prompting an extensive search effort that lasted seven days. This false report led to significant use of police resources and community involvement. Under California Penal Code Section 148.3, making a false report of an emergency is a misdemeanor that can result in up to six months in county jail and/or a fine.
District Attorney George Gascón stated, “Falsely reporting a child as missing not only violates the law but also diverts critical law enforcement resources away from other serious matters. This type of behavior will not be tolerated, and we will hold the responsible individual accountable for his actions.”
Potential Penalties
If convicted, Chao faces:
- A maximum sentence of five years in prison for the felony child stealing/concealment charge under California Penal Code Section 278.
- Additional penalties for the misdemeanor false report of an emergency charge under California Penal Code Section 148.3, which may include up to six months in county jail and/or a fine.
The case is being investigated by the Monterey Park Police Department. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
- Father charged false reporting
