Bradford Hosler, 33, of Canton, is facing multiple felony charges in connection to a home invasion and attempted kidnapping of an 8-year-old Amish boy in Middlefield Township Oct. 9.
Bradford Hosler, 33, of Canton, is facing multiple felony charges in connection to a home invasion and attempted kidnapping of an 8-year-old Amish boy in Middlefield Township Oct. 9.
Hosler is being charged with kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, all first-degree felonies, according to court records.
“This crime in our county is particularly disturbing,” said Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand at a 1 p.m. press conference Oct. 14. “The fact that these people, these bad guys, these slugs who don’t have jobs can come into our county and expect to victimize the Amish community is horrendous. There’s apparently some rumors out there that these people think the Amish won’t report the crimes, that the Amish will just go with the flow. Well that is not the case, I’m here to tell you, in this county. And we won’t put up with it.”
The majority of the Amish population are hunters and have guns, Hildenbrand said.
“(The suspects) are very lucky (guns) weren’t used on them. It’s appalling that they would come from Stark County all the way up here and victimize our residents, our Amish population, and expect to get away with it,” he said. “Because obviously, they’re not going to.”
At 5:26 p.m. last Thursday, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a 40-year old Amish man who had reportedly just been robbed by three males with a black pickup truck who may have taken his son, said Lt. Jim Jonovich during the press conference.
“The victim had reportedly given all of his money to the suspects. He further stated they hit him, threatened to kill him and he did advise he was injured and bleeding on the 911 call,” he said. “The victim also stated the suspects were armed with an electrical device that they utilized to shock him, and we later would find out they also shocked the 8-year old juvenile.”
The 8-year-old and 40-year-old were the only two home at the time of the incident, Jonovich said.
He played the 911 call, in which the victim reports he had to give the suspects all of his money. The victim said his house had been ransacked, he had been struck with his wife’s plant stand and that the suspects were armed with a device that made a clicking sound and shocked him.
The suspects threatened to take his son if he did not give them more money, the victim said.
As money was taken from multiple sources throughout the home, it was difficult for the victim to estimate the amount stolen, but he estimated it could be up to $5,000.
While the suspects threatened multiple times that they had a weapon, nothing but the electrical stun device was presented, Jonovich said.
The three had pulled into his business in their truck earlier in the day and had immediately left, he said.
“Responding deputies responded from various locations in the county and began scouring the area for the suspect vehicle in hopes of intercepting it fleeing the crime scene,” Jonovich said. “The vehicle was not located at that time.”
The suspects posed as potential customers to the business, then used physical force by placing the 8-year old into a chokehold-type restraint to force him and the adult victim into the house, he said.
“(The adult victim) reported they separated him from his son and they held his son hostage as they moved through the house searching for money,” he said. “I was out at this crime scene that night. This house was completely ransacked. Everything was gone through, thrown all about.”
They became angry when they did not find more money and physically assaulted the victim, resulting in swelling to his face and a substantial laceration below the ear, Jonovich said.
“When the victim could not produce any more money, the suspects stated they were going to kill him and take his son,” he said. “He was forced to look away as the suspects exited the residence holding his son hostage.”
The 8-year-old reported breaking free and running away as he was being dragged toward the suspect’s vehicle, Jonovich said, adding, “He further stated he believed he was going to be abducted and killed.”
The juvenile fled through a dark field and observed the vehicle leaving the property before he returned to the house, he said.
“The juvenile victim also reported that he was shocked in the stomach, tasered in the stomach with the taser device multiple times during this incident,” he said. “The juvenile victim also described witnessing his father being thrown to the ground and being assaulted and beaten by the suspects in his presence.”
Working round the clock, detectives were able to identify the vehicle, a stolen 2020 Chevy Colorado from North Canton, via surveillance, including license plate readers and private cameras. It was equipped with a stolen license plate out of Stark County, Jonovich said.
The vehicle is suspected in multiple criminal offenses through Stark County, he said.
Detectives identified Hosler as the main suspect, who the victim described as the leader of the group, Jonovich said.
Hosler was taken into custody Oct. 11 in Canton, he said, adding at that time, Hosler was on parole for felony domestic violence and felony breaking and entering charges and was equipped with a GPS monitoring unit, which placed his location at the victim’s residence at the time of the crime.
Hosler was identified within 24 hours of the event, Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said.
His physical description matches that of one of the men, specifically his unique facial tattoos, a criminal complaint filed with Chardon Municipal Court said.
“Detectives and deputies worked around the clock relentlessly pursuing the individuals responsible for this serious crime,” Jonovich said. “We will continue to work around the clock until all suspects in this case are charged accordingly for their involvement.”
Hildenbrand said he is confident the other two suspects will be found and arrested within the next few days.
While the situation is still under investigation, the sheriff doubted the family had been randomly chosen.
Jonovich declined to answer any questions about the identities of the other two suspects to avoid hindering the investigation, but added he is very confident they will be apprehended.
The maximum possible sentence for all three felony charges against Hosler is three to 11 years in prison and a fine of $20,000 per count, Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica said during Hosler’s Oct. 14 arraignment.
Flaiz requested a $750,000 cash or surety bond at the arraignment.
“This was a home invasion where the defendant brutally assaulted the victim and held his 8-year-old son hostage while ransacking the home and stealing over $5,000 in cash,” he said.
As well as the GPS data, Hosler was also reportedly identified by eyewitnesses and confessed to a third party, who was interviewed by deputies, Flaiz said.
“His criminal history is extensive. In addition to his recent prison stay, his criminal history is highlighted by two prior separate burglary convictions, which resulted in prison sentences. He also has several other felony convictions,” he said, adding Hosler poses a significant danger to the community if released.
There are multiple filings in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas detailing Hosler’s criminal history, dating back to 2010.
Leah Stevenson, the attorney representing Hosler, asked the court to consider a reasonable bond.
“I will say with regards to my client’s criminal history, we did speak about that. He was very forthcoming and he told me he had multiple, that there were burglaries, domestics, interrupting public service,” she said. “He also told me he has four children he has a close relationship with between the ages of 6 to 15.”
Stevenson said it is her understanding Hosler has never failed to appear for a hearing.
Stupica took a moment to read through Hosler’s criminal history before setting the bond at $750,000.
Hosler is currently being held at the Geauga County Safety Center. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Chardon Municipal Court.
