Sheriff: Calif. handyman kidnapped, compelled to work

MORGAN HILL, Calif. –

A Northern California man and woman are accused of luring a repairman into a home, beating him and holding him against his will for about six hours while they forced him, at risk to his life, to repair a dishwasher and other appliances.

Jason DeJesus, 36, and Chanelle Troedson, 33, were charged with false imprisonment and other crimes Thursday, three days after they were arrested in the attack on the 50-year-old handyman, Santa Clara County authorities said.

Sheriff's Sgt. Jose Cardoza told The Associated Press the attack stemmed from a dispute between the handyman and a relative of DeJesus over payment for work he did at the relative's home about two months ago.

The suspects lured the handyman to the home in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Morgan Hill on Monday morning with the promise of receiving money owed to him and completing other work. Instead, the craftsman was immediately attacked, Cardoza said.

“He was scared, just seconds after he entered the house he was scared,” the sheriff's sergeant said.

According to Cardoza, the suspects repeatedly threatened and beat the repairman and forced him to repair equipment over the next approximately six hours. They then forced him into his truck and told him that they would take him to the relative's house to complete the work done there.

The repairman managed to escape and call authorities when the suspects stopped in San Jose to get gas.

He had visible injuries but refused to be taken to a hospital, Cardoza said. The man's name has not been released.

DeJesus and Troedson were also charged with kidnapping during a carjacking, kidnapping for the purpose of robbery, assault and battery.

They were expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear whether any of the suspects had an attorney.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, https://www.sfgate.com