Lynchburg man sentenced to prison in abduction case

A Lynchburg man was sentenced to two years in prison last week after pleading guilty to abduction and domestic violence charges.

As previously reported, Joshua A. Kern, 35, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in December on charges of abduction, a third-degree felony; strangulation, a fourth-degree felony; and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor.

On or about Nov. 6, it was alleged that Kern “did, without privilege to do so, knowingly by force or threat, restrain the liberty” of a victim. It was alleged that he “did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm” to the victim.

Kern pleaded guilty to the abduction and domestic violence charges in January, with the strangulation charge dismissed.

During a hearing Feb. 22, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Kern to 24 months in prison on the felony charge, concurrent to six months on the misdemeanor charge. Kern had 35 days of jail time credit. 

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