MUSCATINE COUNTY, Iowa — The kidnapping and robbery charges filed against a Davenport teenager have been dropped.
According to court documents from the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office, a 17-year-old was accused of taking part in torturing a victim by restraining him with duct tape and shooting him with paintballs.
“Since the filing of criminal charges the victim has steadfastly endeavored to sabotage this prosecution,” read a motion to dismiss document from the Muscatine County District Court. The document went on to say the victim “has made statements on social media which are contradictory to his statements to law enforcement and the physical evidence.”
With that, and the victim’s “refusal to participate in the criminal justice process” prosecutors believe they don’t have a case, according to the document.
The incident stemmed from January 9, where a male juvenile was found on his porch, suffering from several injuries and hypothermia, read the court document.
A previous report indicated that the victim had been put in the trunk of a car and left in a field. Court documents said that “the victim’s injuries were consistent with the information he provided.”
The victim said three people were involved in the assault and had robbed him of money and his cell phone, according to court documents.
On January 10, 17-year-old Taryn Deion Moore was arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree robbery. The charges have been dismissed.
Two other people were named in the original complaint document as well. Charges against them have also been dropped; they were never arrested.
Original Story:
MUSCATINE COUNTY, Iowa — A Davenport teenager is facing kidnapping and robbery charges, accused of taking part in torturing a victim by restraining him with duct tape and shooting him with paintballs.
In the early-morning hours of Wednesday, January 9, the victim was stripped naked and his hands, ankles and mouth were tied with duct tape, according to court documents from the Muscatine County Attorney’s Office.
“The victim was further assaulted with hands, feet and being shot with a paintball gun,” read the court document.
According to the document, the victim was then put into the trunk of a car and left in a field near a gravel road. The temperature was listed as 27 degrees at that time with a 13-degree wind chill, which the document described as “a condition and environment that posed a substantial risk of death.”
The victim was later found at a home on Ward Avenue in Muscatine County, according to court documents. He told authorities that on top of the assault he had also been robbed, having his cell phone and $210 stolen from him. Three people were involved in the assault and robbery, according to the victim.
One person has been charged in the incident: 17-year-old Taryn Deion Moore from Davenport, according to a statement from the Muscatine County Attorney’s office. He was arrested on Thursday, January 10 and faces charges of first-degree kidnapping and first-degree robbery.
