DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Acting United States Attorney Edward R. Ryan
Western District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2009

For further information call
704.344-6222
Fax: 704.227.0264

JERRY DOUGLAS CASE CHARGED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT Gastonia Man Charged with Four Counts of Kidnapping CHARLOTTE, NC - Acting United States Attorney Edward R. Ryan of the Western District of North Carolina announced today that a criminal complaint charging Jerry Douglas Case, 52, of Gastonia, NC, with four counts of kidnapping was signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler in Charlotte, NC.

According to the affidavit supporting the criminal complaint (copy attached), on or about July 18, 2009, Case is alleged to have kidnapped four individuals from a fishing spot at 425 Hot Hole Lane near Belmont, North Carolina. The affidavit alleges that Case forced the victims to drive him to various locations in North and South Carolina in order to obtain, among other things, gas, beer and cigarettes. The affidavit further alleges that the victims, including a seven year old child and an infant, were able to escape at a Kangaroo Service Station located at the intersection of Interstate 85 and State Highway 18 in Cherokee County, South Carolina.

Thereafter, according to the affidavit, South Carolina law enforcement personnel responded to the Kangaroo Service Station and apprehended Case following an altercation. In addition to these federal kidnapping charges, Solicitor Harold W. (Trey) Gowdy of the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office of South Carolina has charged Case with assaulting local law enforcement personnel during his capture. Case remains hospitalized in South Carolina and will make an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in Charlotte upon his medical release and transfer to federal custody. Following final disposition of these federal charges, Case will be returned to South Carolina for further proceedings.

If convicted, Case faces a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment as it relates to Counts One and Two which charge the kidnapping of victim WEP, described in the affidavit as a 71 year old man, and victim NMP, described in the affidavit as a 28 year old woman. As it relates to Counts Three and Four which charge the kidnapping of victim Child-A, described in the affidavit as seven year old girl, and victim Infant-A , described in the affidavit as a nine month old boy, Case faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment for each of Counts Three and Four. It is important to note, however, that any sentence received upon conviction will be influenced by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which the Court consults in order to determine each defendant’s actual sentence. Sentences are based upon a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and each defendant’s criminal history, if any. Federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint results from a multi-agency investigation conducted by, among others, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Gaston County Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Additional coordination was provided by Solicitor Trey Gowdy of the 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office of South Carolina and District Attorney Locke Bell of the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office. The charges are only allegations. In the American justice system, a person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty in a court of law. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas T. Cullen and Mark T. Odulio.

Jerry Douglas Case, 52 years of age
Gastonia, NC 28052