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LISBON -- A plea hearing is now set for 10:20 a.m. Nov. 6 for Jason N. Hartsough, who's accused of kidnapping a woman from a daycare parking lot in Columbiana and forcing her to a secluded area while armed with a pistol.
During a status hearing Friday morning, Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton said she was notified by counsel that the case has been resolved.
Hartsough, 48, state Route 558, New Waterford, appeared for brief hearing accompanied by his defense attorney, Joseph Ohlin. The state was represented by county Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone.
A jury trial had been scheduled to begin Oct. 20, but now it's canceled since there's a plea pending in the case.
Hartsough was indicted in May with charges of first-degree felony kidnapping, a firearm specification, fourth-degree felony disrupting public services and misdemeanor assault.
Hartsough remains out of jail under a $50,000 cash or surety bond, which the judge continued.
An affidavit in county Municipal Court detailed what happened, with Hartsough allegedly kidnapping the woman from the parking lot of Small Wonders Daycare in Columbiana and causing her to believe he would cause her serious physical harm by forcing her to a secluded area against her will while armed with a pistol. The Columbiana police affidavit said the victim was allegedly forced into the back of Hartsough's truck when she arrived for work at the daycare at 5 a.m. April 6.
She allegedly texted coworkers at 6:30 a.m. "911," "Jason," and "Help." Her car was found at the daycare with the keys nearby and flowers strewn about the ground. While police were coordinating with the county Sheriff's Office for a suspected person who had an alleged turbulent history with the victim, identified as Hartsough, the Sheriff's Office reported the victim called 911 from Lusk Lock Road, south of Middle Beaver Road.
The victim allegedly gave a statement about being forced into the back of the truck and finding an axe in the back during the drive and unsuccessfully using it to fight off the defendant at the scene and trying to wrestle a pistol away from him.