Local man charged with kidnapping
ELKINS — An area man is being held without bond after he allegedly took another man hostage at gunpoint.
Jonathan William Streets, 21, of Elkins, is charged with one felony count of kidnapping and one felony count of wanton endangerment.
According to court documents, on Sunday, Cpl. S.P. Miller, Trooper First Class J.J. Cornelius, Senior Trooper C.E. Elliott and Senior Trooper D.T. Stallings, all of the West Virginia State Police, as well as several Randolph County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call on Moyer Road, in Elkins, about a person being held at gunpoint and against his will.
Miller located the residence and found both Streets and the alleged victim inside. The alleged victim told officers that Streets held a firearm on him and threatened to kill him if he did not locate a separate firearm that he believed had been stolen from him earlier that week, according to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court.
The alleged victim added he was “unable” to leave the residence and feared for his own safety because he believed Streets was going to shoot him. Officers were additionally told by the alleged victim that Streets hid the weapon when he realized officers had arrived at the scene, police said.
He then pointed to an “area in the kitchen” where the gun was hidden by Streets, police said.
Miller lifted a lid off of a toolbox at that location and observed several firearms. Officers then took Streets into custody and obtained a recorded statement from the alleged victim, the complaint states.
If convicted on the kidnapping charge, Streets could be sentenced to life in prison without eligibility for parole.
The wanton endangerment charge, if convicted, carries a potential sentence of not less than one nor more than five years in the state penitentiary. Or, at the discretion of the court, a sentence of not more than one year in jail, a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $2,500, or both.