{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Whitley County man pleads guilty to kidnapping &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"lwE7VXNFHZ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/whitley-county-man-pleads-guilty-to-kidnapping\/\">Whitley County man pleads guilty to kidnapping<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/whitley-county-man-pleads-guilty-to-kidnapping\/embed\/#?secret=lwE7VXNFHZ\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Whitley County man pleads guilty to kidnapping&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"lwE7VXNFHZ\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/court-teaser.jpg","thumbnail_width":493,"thumbnail_height":265,"description":"A Corbin man, Douglas M. Edmonson, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday, before U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier, to kidnapping. According to the investigation and his guilty plea, Edmonson and his three co-defendants lured a victim to a location in Tennessee, using an unrelated party\u2019s Facebook account. Edmonson and his co-defendants then forced the victim into a vehicle and transported her to Corbin. The victim was bound, blindfolded, and repeatedly assaulted during the two-day kidnapping. The investigation revealed that Edmonson and his co-defendants employed firearms, as well as explosive devices during the kidnapping, according to a press release from the United States Attorney\u2019s office. On Aug. 11, 2018, ATF agents were called to the kidnapping scene in Corbin, and assisted in locating and detonating several homemade pipe bombs. Edmonson was indicted in September 2019. Edmonson\u2019s co-defendants, Dallas Chain Perkins, Bryanna Soper, Dallas Chain Perkins, and Erik Peace, previously entered guilty pleas to kidnapping and are also awaiting sentencing, according to the release. \u201cAfter being lured, restrained, and held for drugs or ransom, the victim in this case was threatened with firearms and homemade explosives, then brutally beaten, burned, and repeatedly assaulted,\u201d said Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. \u201cWhile nothing can make up for the unspeakable suffering the victim endured here, she knows that those who did this to her will now face the consequences of their appalling conduct.\u00a0I want to commend the work of our law enforcements partners.\u00a0Without their efforts, this result would not have been possible.\u201d \u201cThis defendant was an armed drug trafficker and part of a group that reigned terror and committed heinous acts of violence in our rural communities,\u201d said ATF Special Agent In Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. \u201cI commend the efforts of the ATF agents and our Kentucky State Police partners who worked diligently on this year-long investigation to help bring a sense of justice to the victim. I hope this case sends the message that ATF and our law enforcement partners will not standby and allow these acts of violence.\u201d The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP, with assistance provided by the Williamsburg Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed. Edmonson is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2022.\u00a0All 4 defendants face a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. This case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice\u2019s \u201cProject Safe Neighborhoods\u201d Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. The PSN program involves a comprehensive approach to public safety \u2013 one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials."}