Breedlove
One of four suspects accused in a kidnapping, assault and robbery of a 19-year-old local man is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday in Bartholomew Superior Court 1.
On Feb. 12, Charles Abram Breedlove, 19, of 2017 14th St. accepted a plea deal when he pleaded guilty to robbery resulting in serious bodily injury as a Level 2 felony. In exchange, prosecutors dropped Level 3 felony charges of kidnapping, criminal confinement and aggravated battery.
While the agreement stipulates a 10-year prison term, Judge James Worton is not obligated to accept those terms. Under Indiana law, a Level 2 sentence is punishable by up to 30 years with the Indiana Department of Correction if aggravating circumstances warrant a lengthier sentence.
Originally, all four defendants were charged with kidnapping, criminal confinement and aggravated battery. Any defendant convicted on all four counts could face between 19 and 78 years in prison, as well as up to $40,000 in fines.
The charges against the four defendants stem from what investigators believe was a premeditated abduction and assault the night of June 2, 2023. The victim got into a vehicle driven by Emily Franklin, 19, of Commiskey, after she offered to take him out to eat, according to a probable cause affidavit. Instead, Franklin drove him to a barn located off Bonnell Road where three young men were waiting for them, the affidavit states.
Co-defendant Zablin “Jai” Woodruff, 19, of 238 N. Hughes St. grabbed the victim by the neck and dragged him out of the vehicle before Breedlove punched him in the face, according to the affidavit. Police say another co-defendant, Ashton Fields, 18 of 762 Clifty Drive-C, was also at the scene.
Investigators wrote that Breedlove and Woodruff took turns with a knife attempting to cut the victim before Breedlove brandished a pistol from his waistband and pistol-whipped the victim, court documents state.
Breedlove pointed a pistol at the victim’s head multiple times and said, “I’m going to blow your head off,” “these are your last minutes on earth” and “this is it,” the affidavit states.
The victim told investigators Woodruff held him down while Breedlove cut off his hair and cut the skin covering his throat with a pair of scissors, the affidavit states.
Woodruff asked the victim, “Are you thirsty?” just before he threw liquid on the victim’s face that burned his eyes and the lacerations on his face, the affidavit states. Woodruff and Breedlove then grabbed the victim’s index and small fingers and attempted to break them, investigators said.
After taking the victim’s sweatshirt, shoes and iPhone, the defendants warned the 19-year-old to wait in the barn for 30 minutes. The victim waited for more than an hour before running to nearby homes seeking help, the affidavit states. When he got to the fourth home, he found himself at the residence of Indiana State Police Trooper Rick Roseberry, who called for emergency medical assistance.
The victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Columbus Regional Hospital. The four defendants were apprehended over the next several days.
No motive for the kidnapping, beating and robbery has been provided by investigating officers nor court officials.
Woodruff is scheduled for a change of plea hearing at 9:15 a.m. on April 22. The same type of hearing for Fields is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 6.
The attorney for Franklin has asked that her case be handled separately from the other defendants. The judge will hold a hearing on that matterwhen Franklin’s change of plea hearing happens at 9:15 a.m. on May 20.
Jury trials for Franklin, Fields and Woodruff are tentatively set for 8:30 a.m. on June 18.
