September 5, 2014

Four Men Indicted on Federal Kidnapping Charges

FAYETTEVILLE, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jose Garcia-Chavez, age 26, of Rogers, appeared today in United States Magistrate Court for arraignment on kidnapping charges. Eldridge also announced that Michael Roberts, age 24, of Bentonville; Theron Vance, age 22, of Rogers; and Jason Petitt, age 25, of Bentonville, appeared in court for arraignment on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping and Kidnapping, Aiding, and Abetting in a separate case. All four defendants were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Erin Setser.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “We remain dedicated to prosecuting violent crimes—including kidnapping—throughout the Western District of Arkansas. These crimes threaten our communities, and our job is to work together to hold those who commit these crimes accountable. I appreciate all of the hard work by the FBI, the Rogers Police Department and the Bentonville Police Department to see that justice is done in these cases.”

On August 13, 2014, a Federal Grand Jury issued an indictment against Jose Garcia-Chavez charging one count of kidnapping. As alleged in this incident, on May 19, 2014, Garcia-Chavez kidnapped the victim and transported the victim from Arkansas to Missouri. The statutory penalty for the offense is life imprisonment or any term of years, not more than $250,000 fine, or both.

Also on August 13, 2014, a Federal Grand Jury issued an indictment against Michael Roberts, Theron Vance, and Jason Petitt charging each with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of kidnapping. As alleged in this incident, on June 12, 2014, Michael Roberts and Theron Vance arrived at the victim’s apartment in Dallas, Texas, physically assaulted and forcibly restrained her, and transported her against her will from Dallas, Texas to the Western District of Arkansas. On June 12, 2014, Jason Petitt used the cell phone and debit card of Michael Roberts to create a false alibi for Roberts. The statutory penalty for each offense is life imprisonment or any term of years, not more than $250,000 fine, or both.

The cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rogers Police Department, and the Bentonville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris is prosecuting the cases for the United States.

The charges in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless or until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.