A Burnsville man kidnapped a woman he offered a ride to in downtown Minneapolis in the summer of 2017, telling her he planned to take her several states away and force her into sex trafficking, according to admissions he made in court.
On Wednesday, Dontay Lavarice Reese pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping in federal court in Minneapolis, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Reese, 37, was in downtown Minneapolis in the early hours of Aug. 6, 2017, when he encountered the woman and offered her a ride home, authorities say.
Instead of heading toward her residence, Reese took her into Wisconsin, telling the woman they were heading “several states” away and that he planned to use her for money by making her work as a prostitute.
The woman tried to escape several times, but each time Reese caught her and “violently restrained” her again, prosecutors said.
A family witnessed one of her attempted escapes and called 911.
Wisconsin State Patrol troopers found her running out of a wooded area screaming for help. Her wrists were bound.
Reese soon was seen running naked out of the same area, prosecutors said.
He was arrested and taken into custody.
“The victim endured a terrifying experience, and has shown incredible courage throughout this process. Because of her courage a violent offender is no longer in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald.
Reese is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court on June 4.
He was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involved with instilling fear of great bodily harm back in 2004. His criminal history also includes burglary, domestic assault and violating no-contact orders.
