Four defendants were held without bond for an alleged kidnapping that occurred in Westminster on May 21, 2024. Additionally, a fifth defendant was held without bond for allegedly threatening to retaliate against the female victim on May 24, 2024.
The following details are from the Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County on May 28th:
FOUR OF FIVE DEFENDANTS HELD WITHOUT BOND IN CONNECTION WITH AN ALLEGED KIDNAPPING THAT OCCURRED IN WESTMINSTER ON MAY 21, 2024. AN ADDITIONAL DEFENDANT WAS ALSO HELD WITHOUT BOND ON CHARGES OF ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO RETALIATE AGAINST THE FEMALE VICTIM OF THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPING ON MAY 24, 2024
On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, after bail review hearings, Maryland District Court Judge for Carroll County Judge Erin M. Danz held Dequan Gaines, 27, Brian Johnson, 30, Jordan Riley, 29, and Marc Rivera, 21, all of Westminster, in connection with charges related to an alleged kidnapping of woman and her boyfriend that occurred May 21, 2024. Selena M. Rivera, 19, also charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping, was released on pre-trial services with conditions including wearing a GPS tracking device. Gaines, Riley, and Marc Rivera are charged with kidnapping, second-degree assault, false imprisonment, and extortion. Johnson and Selena Rivera are charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, and extortion.
Additionally, Jessica Lynn Bassler, 39, of Westminster was held without bond by Judge Danz on charges of threatening to harm with the intent of retaliating against the female victim of the alleged kidnapping on May 24, 2024.
Investigators with the Maryland State Police believe the victims were casual acquittances of Gaines, Johnson, Riley, and Marc and Selena Rivera, who acted in concert, and that around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 21, 2024, they forced the victims into a vehicle in front of a convenience store in Westminster, and thereafter tried to extort money from the mother of the female victim by telling her that her daughter and daughter’s boyfriend were being held captive. At some point the female victim and her boyfriend were separated, and the male victim was physically assaulted.
During the investigation, police found the male victim in a broken-down vehicle on Tuesday evening in a Westminster restaurant parking lot. After being interviewed on the scene, he was treated for injuries at the Carroll Hospital Center. The female victim was found uninjured in a different Westminster parking lot at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
On May 24, 2024, Bassler is alleged to have sent threatening messages to the female victim via social media regarding charges being filed in connection with the May 21st incident.
Three of the defendants have preliminary hearings scheduled for June 20, 2024, and two for June 26, 2024 in the District Court of Maryland for Carroll County.
Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker remarked, “This office will not tolerate or permit residents of Carroll County to be snatched openly and wantonly off the street by gangs bent on extorting money for their release.”
Individuals who are charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Original press release: Westminster Kidnapping May 21 2024 Press Release
The original story about the incident:
Maryland State Police have arrested five individuals in connection with an alleged kidnapping incident in Carroll County
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