Saturday, 4 April 2009

Teen accused of duct-taping ex-girlfriend faces three felonies in Floyd County

Neighbors called ‘heroes’ for stepping in to stop crime

New Albany Tribune

By MATT THACKER
Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com

The Cambodian teenager accused of bounding his ex-girlfriend with duct tape and stealing gifts he admitted buying her has been charged with three felonies in Floyd County Superior Court No. 3.

Theara Meng, 18, has been charged with class A felony burglary resulting in bodily injury, class C felony criminal confinement and class D felony theft.

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Department alleges that Meng entered an apartment at Charlestown Crossing wearing a mask of Sean Connery as “James Bond.” Police say Meng tied the 16-year-old ex-girlfriend’s hands and mouth with duct tape and stole gifts he gave her when they were dating.

Police were able to capture Meng shortly after the incident occurred Monday night, due in large part to help from the victim’s neighbors, they say.

Lt. Russ Wyatt of the sheriff’s department said the neighbors were “incredible” in providing police with information, and said he did not know if they would have caught Meng without their help.

Greg Brodfehrer, the brother of one of those neighbors, is calling his brother and other neighbors heroes for stopping to help when they were walking down the street and heard the girl struggling.

Brodfehrer said his brother and a neighbor banged on the door until Meng walked out. He said the neighbor used his car to try to block a vehicle from leaving the apartment complex. Police arrived shortly and arrested the suspect.

“I am so proud of him for stepping in the way he did to help out a total stranger,” Brodfehrer said of his brother.

He said he did not want their names published because of concern for their safety.

The suspect — whose name originally appeared in court documents as Meng Theara — faces up to 61 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

He is being held in the Floyd County Jail on a $200,000 bond. A jury trial was set for June 8. His attorney, Gordon Ingle, was not immediately available for comment.

2 comments:

KR said...

I hoped after a his trail June 8, they still lock his ass here, rather than deport him back to Cambodia. He is a rich kid he would get away any crimes he made.

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