One of four people alleged to have kidnapped a man, shaved off his hair and beat him about the face and head because they are said to have believed he was in possession of stolen cellphones appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
The four suspected of being involved in the abduction and assault are 20-year-old Jonathan Farrar, 54-year-old James Seawell, both of Mountain Home, 33-year-old Sommer Taylor of Midway and 54-year-old Jennifer Drzka of Mountain Home.
During his appearance Monday, Seawell requested to have his $250,000 bond lowered and Circuit Judge John Putman set September 19 for a bond hearing.
In a recent court appearance, Seawell said he wanted to pursue having his case moved to another county in the 14th Judicial District.
Seawell told the court he was not safe in the Baxter County jail.
At the time of the earlier request, Judge Putman said the change of venue issue was not yet properly before the court. He told Seawell it would be dealt with at that point.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Drzka is alleged to have asked the other three people to help her retrieve the allegedly stolen cellphones.
All four charged entered not guilty pleas to charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault.
Kidnapping is a Class Y felony, the most serious classification of crime in Arkansas not punishable by the death penalty.
Bond for each of the four people charged in the incident had been set at $250,000. Drzka’s bond is set at $100,000.
ABANDONED BICYCLE BRINGS POLICE
The Mountain Home Police Department(MHPD) became involved July 19 when notified that a bicycle abandoned at the Executive Inn was believed to be stolen.
When officers reviewed footage from video surveillance cameras, they saw what they believed to be a kidnapping in progress.
The video reportedly showed the victim being taken against his will and placed in the back of a vehicle by someone wearing a clown mask. It was later determined that Seawell was wearing the mask, according to the MHPD.
BOLO ISSUED
A be-on-the-lookout was broadcast and the vehicle was found about an hour after the bolo was issued.
Officers found the victim along with Seawell, Taylor and Farrar in the vehicle. Drzka was not arrested with the trio, she was picked up at the Executive Inn after investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage and statements made to officers.
It has been reported that Seawell was still wearing the clown mask when he was spotted by a law officer.
All four people who allegedly participated in the incident were booked into the Baxter County Detention Center July 19.
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