Man Accused Of Abducting Kids On Boat Due In Court

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) — A California man accused of kidnapping his two children and taking them on a stolen yacht for three days is due back in a San Mateo County courtroom.

Christopher Maffei is scheduled to appear in court Monday after not entering a plea last week to several charges including kidnapping, child endangerment and burglary.

The 43-year-old Maffei is accused of forcibly taking his 3-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son from their grandmother on Sept. 4 while the children's mother was in court seeking a restraining order against him.

Authortieis say Maffei took a stolen yacht from an Alameda marina and headed south along California's coast.

The Coast Guard, FBI and police caught up with Maffei near Monterey after a fisherman reported seeing him in the stolen vessel.

Maffei has said he felt that his children were not safe at their mother's home.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.