A Bemidji man entered not guilty pleas yesterday on the charges of kidnapping and assault.
Anthony Wittner, 23. Photo courtesy of Beltrami County Jail.
The criminal complaint accuses 23-year-old Anthony Wittner of assisting another, 19-year-old Edward Jenkins-Whitefeather, of holding two victims hostage and accusing them of offenses such as elder abuse, child abuse and misrepresenting themselves as gang members.
The crime took place at a local trailer park last July. Deputies responded to a report of a man running through the park with his hands restrained behind his back.
The alleged punishments included being held at gunpoint, having a sword held to them, being waterboarded, and hogtied.
Edward Jenkins-Whitefeather, 19. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
One of the victims was treated at the Fargo hospital for extensive injuries, while the other was treated at the Sanford Bemidji Emergency room.
Jenkins-Whitefeather was sentenced in November after pleading guilty, and is currently serving at least 4 years in the St. Cloud prison.
Wittner has been deemed competent to stand trial, and will make his next court appearance on Jan. 21.
