Deputies arrest man in kidnapping case
From Staff ReportsOriginally published: May 29. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: May 28. 2009 10:26PM
A Kingston man was jailed after he allegedly pulled a gun on a woman in Blount County and kidnapped her.
James Leon Steward III, 20, was arrested by Blount County Sheriff's deputies on the charge of aggravated kidnapping following an incident at 1:36 a.m. Wednesday in Blount County.
A Vonore woman and her boyfriend allegedly went to a Maryville residence on Mark Lane to pick up Steward and another woman. According to a Blount County Sheriff's Office report, the four people went to another residence to make a "transaction."
James Steward
It's not clear from the report or arrest warrant for Steward what type of transaction was allegedly taking place.
When they arrived, a man they didn't know was standing at the end of the residence's driveway, according to the report. He approached the vehicle and grabbed a bottle containing a clear liquid from the second woman. The two men in the vehicle chased the man who stole the bottle.
Steward came back to the Vonore woman's vehicle and pulled a gun out. He allegedly told her if she did not start telling the truth he was going to kill her.
He got into the vehicle and drove back to the Mark Lane residence. Steward reportedly took her keys and told her she was not leaving until her boyfriend came back. He allegedly told the Vonore woman to contact her boyfriend and tell him to bring his stuff back. The Vonore woman alleged that Steward and the second woman sat on the porch watching her and then went inside the house, at which time the Vonore woman called 9-1-1.
Officers got permission to search the residence and found Steward hiding under stairs in a closet. They also found a gun inside the residence. Steward is being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond pending an appearance at 9 a.m. June 3 in Blount County General Sessions Court.
This story was edited for presentation on the Web. Additional information and details are available for subscribers only. If you want every word of Blount County's best news and information source you can get home delivery and e-edition subscriptions here. Nobody knows Blount better than The Daily Times, your hometown newspaper for 125 years and counting.