SARATOGA MAN BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL
Friday, August 1st, 2008 -- 8:33 AM
A judge ordered a Saratoga paper mill worker to stand trial Thursday for kidnapping and sexually assaulting two men at his home.Edward Lanphear is charged with 13 felonies, including kidnapping, false imprisonment, battery and sexual assault.
After hearing testimony from the alleged victims and a sheriff's deputy, a Wood County judge ruled their was probable cause Lanphear committed the crimes.
One of the victims said Lanphear rigged a shotgun to shoot him if he moved in his chains and fired another weapon to prove his point.
"It sounded like a .22-caliber pistol of some sort. The person said that was just to let me know that they were serious," he testified.
One of the victims testified he asked Lanphear to get him a pack of cigarettes and then engineered his escape.
"I climbed up on that ladder and undid the chains and jumped back down and that was it," the alleged victim said. Records show he then escaped the garage and ran to a neighbor's house to get help.
Both men also say Lanphear forced them to drink alcohol and threatened to hurt them if they didn't.
Lanphear stated he understood the charges against him. He stood mute on the charges and not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf.
Lanphear remains jailed on a one-million dollar cash bond.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.