A 21-year-old Hot Springs man who was accused last year of kidnapping two women and binding one of them with tape has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Marcus Tre Bland III entered guilty pleas to two counts of kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault on Wednesday, a day before his trial was scheduled to begin in Garland County Circuit Court.
An alleged accomplice, Djuan Larell Goodman, 22, of Hot Springs, is set to stand trial in February. Bland's mother, Sheena Renee Bland, 41, was arrested earlier this month and charged with two felony counts of intimidating a witness after being accused of making threats against the two victims.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a woman said Goodman on Nov. 8, 2017, pointed a rifle at her head and later forced her and her friend into a car before Goodman and Bland bound her arms and legs with tape and placed another piece over her mouth.
The friend was later forced from the car, police said, and the woman was struck in the face with the rifle.
Authorities say a third man then entered the vehicle and began telling the woman he was going to "cut her fingers off and have a bunch of guys rape her." More tape was reportedly wrapped around her hands, feet and head, securing her limbs and covering her eyes.
The victim said at one point she felt the vehicle stop and was able to open the door, jump out and yell for help.
Bland and Goodman surrendered about a month later after warrants were issued for their arrests.