BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced five defendants were arraigned Thursday on an indictment in connection with a kidnapping and gang assault that happened on October, 2.
Daquel L. Braxton, 25, Savannah R. Brosius, 20, Dontavia N. McMorris, 21, Jeremiah I. Martin, 26, and Raymone A. Wilson, 20, all of Buffalo, have each been charged with the following offenses:
- one felony count of kidnapping
- one violent felony count of kidnapping
- one violent felony count of assault in the First Degree
- one violent count of assault in the Second Degree
- one violent felony count of robbery in the First Degree
- one violent felony count of robbery in the Second Degree
All five defendants are being held without bail.
Braxton was held on $80,000 cash or bond and is scheduled to return on October, 31 for a pre-trial conference.
Martin and Wilson were held on bail set at $80,000 cash or bond and are scheduled to return on November, 12 for a pre-trial conference.
Brosius and McMorris were held on bail set at $50,000 cash or bond and scheduled to return on November, 12 for a pre-trial conference.
Temporary orders of protection were issued on behalf of the victim and his family member.
If convicted of the highest count, the maximum sentence is 25-years to life in prison.
It is alleged that on or around the time of Wednesday, October 2 the defendants kidnapped a victim, who they knew, with the intent to make a third person pay money as a ransom.
The defendants allegedly forced the victim into an apartment on the 500 block of Virginia Street.
The defendants are accused of intentionally kidnapping the victim and torturing him for several hours. The defendants are also accused of forcibly robbing the victim of his personal property, including his cell phone, backpack, wallet and debit card.
The Buffalo Police Department began an investigation after being contacted by the victim’s relative on the evening of Wednesday, October, 2. The relative had allegedly been contacted for ransom.
When the victim was located the same evening by police, he was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he received treatment for serious physical injuries, including burns, bruises and lacerations to his head and body.
"Officers went in there, encountered the victim and several other individuals, but were not completely clear as to what was going on at the time," said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
Police located the missing person and took them to the Northeast-district police station.
The 21-year-old victim told investigators they had been beaten, tied to a chair, and held against their will. Police said the victim told them they had their head shaved, bleached, and boiling water poured onto their body. They said they were also hit with a belt multiple times, and all of their belongings were allegedly taken.
"And tied to a chair, and then there were some other things that were done to him that, kind of torture in nature, if you will. What the investigation revealed is that most of the parties were known to each other. There was obviously an underlying reason as to why to this crime occurred. Our detectives worked on this case and within several days have made four arrests," said Commissioner Gramaglia.
The victim was taken to ECMC for their burns, welts, lacerations, and bruising.
"Gang assault is defined by a minimum number of people assaulting an individual and causing a certain minimum level of injury to a victim," said Commissioner Gramaglia.
Police said Wilson had allegedly been in possession of crack cocaine, and was additionally charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree.