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LISBON -- A man accused of kidnapping a woman from a Columbiana daycare parking lot and taking her to a secluded area while armed with a pistol pleaded guilty Friday to an amended charge of abduction, along with assault and disrupting public services.
Jason N. Hartsough, 48, state Route 558, New Waterford, will face sentencing at 9 a.m. Dec. 11.
As part of the plea agreement, Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone said he'll be recommending a sentence of six months in the county jail and two years probation.
The victim wasn't present in the courtroom, but Yacovone said "she's very satisfied with the resolution."
He called the case unique and noted the defendant had no criminal history at the time of the incident.
Hartsough was accompanied by his defense attorney, Joseph Ohlin, during the plea hearing before county Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton.
Hartsough was indicted in May for charges of first-degree felony kidnapping, a firearm specification, fourth-degree felony disrupting public services and misdemeanor assault. The plea involved amending the kidnapping charge to abduction, a third-degree felony, dismissing the firearm specification and pleading guilty to the abduction and the charges from the indictment for disrupting public services and assault.
Bickerton spoke with Hartsough about the rights he was giving up with the plea and about the possible penalties, which range from nine months to 36 months for the third-degree felony, six months to 18 months for the fourth-degree felony and up to 180 days for the misdemeanor. She ordered a pre-sentence investigation along with setting the sentencing date.
Hartsough remains out of jail under a $50,000 cash or surety bond, which the judge continued.
An affidavit in county Municipal Court gave some details about what happened, with Hartsough abducting the woman from the parking lot of Small Wonders Daycare in Columbiana on April 6 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 forced into the back of Hartsough's truck when she arrived for work at the daycare at 5 a.m. that day.
The affidavit said she 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 affidavit said the victim 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.