Christopher Maffei

The father accused of taking his children from South San Francisco and spiriting them away on a stolen yacht in September will stand trial on a number of felonies including kidnapping and child endangerment.

Christopher Maffei, 43, previously pleaded not guilty to all charges but a judge ruled after a preliminary hearing Friday there is sufficient evidence to try him on counts including first-degree burglary, kidnapping, taking a child from a lawful custodian, child endangerment and possessing a stolen motor vehicle.

At the same hearing, Judge Lisa Novak also denied a defense request to lower all the felonies to misdemeanors.

Maffei cried during the hearing, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

On Sept. 4, 2012, the 43-year-old man allegedly took his 3-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son from their mother's South San Francisco home and sailed away on a yacht he'd stolen from an Alameda marina. Authorities located the 41-foot boat, which had run out of fuel and, after hours of monitoring, the Coast Guard escorted the vessel into Santa Cruz Harbor.

The children were unharmed and Maffei was taken into custody.

As Maffei took the children, his ex-girlfriend and the children's mother was at the San Mateo County Superior Court filing a restraining order request against him.

Maffei has said in earlier court appearances that he took the children to prevent them from abuse.

He remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail and returns to court Feb. 20 to enter a Superior Court plea and possibly set a trial date.