39-year-old suspect also facing unrelated ‘luring a child’ and ‘promoting a recording of sexual conduct – child’ charges in Vermont, where he was arrested in June
Joshua S. Severance, 39, of Rutland, Vermont, was indicted by a Yavapai County grand jury on July 2, according to the Cottonwood Police Department.
The indictment was for three counts of sexual assault and 10 other charges stemming from the alleged kidnapping of a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint near the intersection of West State Route 89A and 12th Street on May 20.
During the alleged kidnapping, “the victim was forced to drive the male suspect around the city, and was sexually assaulted,” CPD reported on May 21. Police stated the then-unidentified suspect fled on foot.
The full list of charges, according to CPD, are:
- Three counts: sexual assault
- Two counts: Kidnapping involving a dangerous weapon
- Two counts: Attempt to commit sexual assault
One count each of:
- sexual extortion involving a dangerous weapon
- aggravated assault involving a dangerous weapon
- sexual abuse
- misconduct involving weapons
- criminal damage
- preventing use of telephone
“In Vermont, Severance is charged with promoting a sexual recording of a minor and luring a child, both felonies,” the Rutland Herald reported. “They carry a combined maximum of 15 years in prison. He is being held for lack of $500,000 bail after police said he was found armed at the home of a registered sex offender.”
In early June, Severance was taken into custody by the Rutland City Police Department on outstanding arrest warrants, according to the RCPD, which announced his arrest on June 4.
The Rutland Herald reported, that, before Severance was in Cottonwood he was allegedly in communications with a 15-year-old girl, according to the Vermont State Police. The girl reportedly contacted authorities, telling them Severance asked her to send explicit photos of herself to him, after the two began communicating and the girl thought Severance was younger than he is.
He faces charges in Vermont of “luring a child” and “promoting a recording of sexual conduct – child.”
Severance is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, July 20, at 3 p.m. in Rutland about his charges in Vermont, before Rutland County Superior Court Judge Cortland Corsones.
“Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, due to legal and ethical obligations we are unable to comment on this case, nor provide any information at this time about any indictment,” Yavapai County spokeswoman Kristy Matheson-Parks, wrote in response to a Larson Newspapers request for a copy of the indictment, case number and status and timeline of an extradition from Vermont, where Severance is facing unrelated charges.
“I am unable to comment or elaborate on those questions,” CPD Sgt. Ryan Gibson wrote when asked how Severance was identified as CPD’s suspect.
“CPD and the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office are initiating formal extradition proceedings to return Severance to Arizona to face the charges related to” his case in Cottonwood, CPD posted to social media on July 2.
