He was offered a meal, but instead, he kidnapped and assaulted the victims. He’ll spend life in prison.

Miguel Michael Rodriguez, 33, of Tulare was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for carjacking, kidnapping and rape, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office reported.

Rodriguez was found guilty of the charges on Aug. 11. The crimes took place on June 2, 2015 as a couple were dining at a Tulare fast food restaurant when Rodriguez sat in the booth beside them. After a conversation, leftover food was offered to Rodriguez, a district attorney spokesman said. He declined, and the couple left.

The couple were in their car when Rodriguez approached, said he had a gun, and got inside. He ordered them to drive, took the male victim’s cell phone and forced him into the trunk. Rodriguez tried to sexually assault the female but the male victim escaped the trunk.

Rodriguez drove off and continued the assault on the female at another location. Police were able to find the car through a “find my phone” app and Rodriguez was taken into custody.

Said District Attorney Tim Ward: “The terror this defendant put in his victims is unimaginable…(the) staff worked hard to make sure he spends the rest of his life in prison.”

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 12:49 PM with the headline "He was offered a meal, but instead, he kidnapped and assaulted the victims. He’ll spend life in prison.."