NEWS

Two face kidnapping charges

Joe Williams
Reporter
Allen L. Knott, 28, of Akron, and Crystal N. Wilson, 31, of Coshocton, face kidnapping charges stemming from a reported robbery on Monday.
Allen Lee Knott
Crystal Nicole Wilson

COSHOCTON - Two people are being held in the Coshocton County Justice Center on kidnapping charges in connection with a reported armed robbery Monday.

Allen Lee Knott, 28, of 784 Work Drive, Akron, and Crystal Nicole Wilson, 31, of 426 1/2 S. Seventh St., Coshocton, appeared in Coshocton Municipal Court Tuesday afternoon before Judge Timothy France on one count each of kidnapping, a first-degree felony.

In separate court affidavits, Detective Wesley Wallace of the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office accuses Knott and Wilson of restraining the liberty of two people Monday during the commission of a felony or escape afterwards.

They could face up to 11 years in prison and a maximum $20,000 fine if convicted as charged, Judge France said. France scheduled both for preliminary hearings on their charges at 3 p.m. Sept. 7.

France appointed the public defender's office to represent Wilson, at her request.

Knott said he plans to hire an attorney.

The judge set bond at $500,000 for Knott and $100,000 for Wilson at the recommendation of Coshocton County Prosecutor Jason Given.

Given said Knott has previous convictions for robbery and attempted murder with a firearm from 2007 and was just released from prison in 2014.

Wilson was previously convicted of misdemeanor menacing, Given said.

Wilson told the judge Tuesday she had been taking heroin for a week or more, until Monday, but does not know for how long in total.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Knott and Wilson Monday during a traffic stop on U.S. 36 after receiving a 911 call that had reported an armed robbery. They allegedly seized drugs and cash during that stop.

Given said the drugs have been sent to a state laboratory for analysis, and his office plans to present the case to a grand jury for consideration of charges.

jwilliams6@gannett.com

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