Man arrested in Highland County on kidnapping charges sentenced to 25 years to life in prison
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MAYVILLE, NY - An Ashville, Ky. man who had been found guilty of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault and aggravated criminal contempt, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, according to The Observer of Dunkirk, NY. The man was charged with beating and kidnapping his estranged wife and was ultimately arrested in Highland County in May 2009 by the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
Harold E. Hall, 58, was sentenced Tuesday, according to the newspaper. First-degree kidnapping carried a minimum sentence of 15 years to life., the newspaper reported.
District attorney David W. Foley, according to The Observer, thanked the law enforcement agencies who worked to locate and ultimately arrest Hall, including the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, according to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward, in May of 2009 the HCSO was informed that Hall could be in the area, where he was said to have relatives. He and his estranged wife were eventually located by the office at a residence in New Market Township, he said.
"In May 2009, Hall forced his wife's car off of Big Tree Road in Busti by hitting the back end with his pickup truck. Hall stopped his truck and proceeded to attack his wife, hitting her 12 to 15 times with a hammer, leaving multiple bruises and breaking two of his wife's ribs. Hall then forced his wife into his truck and drove away with her. The event was viewed by several eye witnesses. An investigation was launched by the Lakewood/Busti Police Department, which led to leads in Highland County, Ohio. Hall held his captive for more than 13 hours, but was finally located by the Highland County Sheriff's Department," according to The Post-Journal, of Jamestown N.Y.
On Tuesday, Foley thanked the Lakewood/Busti Police Department, which investigated the woman's initial appearance, as well as the Highland County Sheriff's Office, according to The Observer, "for their fine work in apprehending Mr. Hall, saying 'who knows what could have happened to Mrs. Hall had these two fine Police Departments not found her.'"
Det. Danny Croy, Det. Steve Alexander and Dep. Ron Hughes, who located Hall in New Market Township, traveled to New York in August to testify at his trial.
Ward said that he has a good department, staffed with good people and they are glad to help out other law enforcement agencies whenever they can.
"As far as I can see, it's an appropriate sentence for the crime committed," Ward told The Highland County Press. "It was a very severe beating he inflicted on the victim. In any case, we are willing to assist other police departments and law enforcement agencies around Ohio, and around the country, and we will continue to do that. We always get a good response from other agencies when we need that type of help also. We are glad to do it, and it seems an appropriate sentence for Mr. Hall. Hopefully he stays off the streets for the rest of his life.
"Det. Alexander, Det. Croy and Dep. Ronnie Hughes were the officers involved in that case," Ward said. "They did an outstanding job based on the information we were given the night (Hall) was apprehended. We have a good staff of people here and this is just another example of the dedication of the staff that we have here at the sheriff's office in Highland County."
MAYVILLE, N.Y. - An Ashville, Ky. man who had been found guilty of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault and aggravated criminal contempt, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, according to The Observer of Dunkirk, NY. The man was charged with beating and kidnapping his estranged wife and was ultimately arrested in Highland County in May 2009 by the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
Harold E. Hall, 58, was sentenced Tuesday, according to the newspaper. First-degree kidnapping carried a minimum sentence of 15 years to life., the newspaper reported.
District attorney David W. Foley, according to The Observer, thanked the law enforcement agencies who worked to locate and ultimately arrest Hall, including the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, according to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward, in May of 2009 the HCSO was informed that Hall could be in the area, where he was said to have relatives. He and his estranged wife were eventually located by the office at a residence in New Market Township, he said.
"In May 2009, Hall forced his wife's car off of Big Tree Road in Busti by hitting the back end with his pickup truck. Hall stopped his truck and proceeded to attack his wife, hitting her 12 to 15 times with a hammer, leaving multiple bruises and breaking two of his wife's ribs. Hall then forced his wife into his truck and drove away with her. The event was viewed by several eye witnesses. An investigation was launched by the Lakewood/Busti Police Department, which led to leads in Highland County, Ohio. Hall held his captive for more than 13 hours, but was finally located by the Highland County Sheriff's Department," according to The Post-Journal, of Jamestown N.Y.
On Tuesday, Foley thanked the Lakewood/Busti Police Department, which investigated the woman's initial appearance, as well as the Highland County Sheriff's Office, according to The Observer, "for their fine work in apprehending Mr. Hall, saying 'who knows what could have happened to Mrs. Hall had these two fine Police Departments not found her.'"
Det. Danny Croy, Det. Steve Alexander and Dep. Ron Hughes, who located Hall in New Market Township, traveled to New York in August to testify at his trial.
Ward said that he has a good department, staffed with good people and they are glad to help out other law enforcement agencies whenever they can.
"As far as I can see, it's an appropriate sentence for the crime committed," Ward told The Highland County Press. "It was a very severe beating he inflicted on the victim. In any case, we are willing to assist other police departments and law enforcement agencies around Ohio, and around the country, and we will continue to do that. We always get a good response from other agencies when we need that type of help also. We are glad to do it, and it seems an appropriate sentence for Mr. Hall. Hopefully he stays off the streets for the rest of his life.
"Det. Alexander, Det. Croy and Dep. Ronnie Hughes were the officers involved in that case," Ward said. "They did an outstanding job based on the information we were given the night (Hall) was apprehended. We have a good staff of people here and this is just another example of the dedication of the staff that we have here at the sheriff's office in Highland County."
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