Sauk Centre Kidnapping Suspect Sentenced

ST. CLOUD --  An Alexandria man has been sentenced to just under three years in prison for his role in a kidnapping incident near Sauk Centre last September.

50-year-old Nils Njus had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of second degree assault for his role in the case.

Reports say the victim was in the back seat of a car when a Sauk Centre police officer stopped the vehicle because it had a taillight out. He told police he'd been beaten with a baseball bat and kidnapped because the suspects thought he was a police informant. The victim also told police the suspects were taking him to Claremont to kill him.

The driver of the vehicle, 39-year-old Jennifer Whitters has pleaded guilty to one charge of second degree assault.  A third defendant, 22-year-old Harley Weilage has an April court appearance scheduled.

The victim said he'd gone to Weilage's apartment to buy marijuana and was forced to strip while Weilage and Njus looked for a recording device and beat him.

According to the criminal complaint Whitters admitted using methamphetamine and told a story consistent with the victim's report.