Armed Kidnapping Case Crawls Toward Trial

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The case against accused armed kidnapping suspect Charles Braun, 66, took another steady step towards trial on Thursday as hearings were scheduled to determine the admissibility of evidence and statements in this matter.

Braun’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender John D’Arpino, requested that the court schedule Huntley and Mapp hearings, where it will be determined whether physical evidence gathered by the police or statements by Braun can be suppressed as the case moves forward.

Braun walked with a severe limp in the right leg in court, and cupped his hand around his left ear as if trying to more clearly hear Judge Dennis Cohen, Assistant District Attorney Justin Hill, and APD D’Arpino.

Braun is charged with multiple violent felonies in two counties for allegedly kidnapping a woman, who has a standing order of protection against him, at gunpoint in York, forcing her to drive them to his home in Perry, Wyoming County and raping her while threatening her with a knife, before he allegedly fell asleep and the victim was able to escape.

Braun stands charged in Livingston County with Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a B felony, Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony, Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, an E felony, and Menacing in the Second Degree, an A misdemeanor.

He rejected an offer from ADA Hill in April for 15 years in prison with 5 years post-release supervision.

Braun is also charged in Wyoming County with Rape in the First Degree, a B violent felony, Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony, Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, a class E felony, and Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree, a class E felony, in connection to this incident.

Braun went to Groveland correctional facility on October 25, 1991 for Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a B felony, and had his parole consistently denied five times, every two years until his mandatory release by statute 2006, after which he violated parole and went back to prison for another year in 2012.

PHOTO CAPTION: (Photo/Livingston County Sheriff’s Office)

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