Three Sentenced in Kidnapping Case

Three men accused of kidnapping a man and woman and beating them with an axe handle in July, 2014 were sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, June 23
43 year old Jimmy Tolbert (J.J.) Hendrixson, Jr., 37 year old Casey Joseph Jacobs, and 49 year old Comas Brian Higgins each originally charged with two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, entered pleas to lesser charges. Hendrixson received a twelve year sentence after pleading to kidnapping. He is to serve at 35% before parole eligibility. He was given jail credit for 128 days served.
Jacobs and Higgins each entered a plea by information to a charge of aggravated assault. Each received a six year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Corrections to serve at 30%. Both were given jail credit for days served including 339 days for Jacobs and 340 for Higgins.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Hendrixson, Jacobs, and Higgins met their victims at a bridge on the New Bildad Road Friday night, July 18, 2014 and assaulted them with an axe handle. Both victims were then tied up and their mouths were taped shut. The male victim managed to escape and ran to a residence nearby where he called for help. The three abductors then drove the female victim to their home on the Old Snow Hill Road.
“After we got the call, I along with detectives and deputies of the sheriff’s department arrived (on New Bildad Road) and found an individual (male victim) who had minor injuries. We took a statement from him and learned who the individuals were who assaulted and tied him up. He told us of a female that had been done the same way. We found her (at residence on Old Snow Hill Road) and took her into safe keeping. We arrested the three individuals responsible,” said Sheriff Ray.
The arrest warrants against Hendrixson, Jacobs, and Higgins all alleged that on Friday, July 18, 2014 they held a woman and man against their will. The man and woman were tied up with a rope and their mouths were taped shut. The man and woman had each been assaulted with an axe handle. The woman had several marks on her body from the axe handle and rope. The man suffered bodily injuries causing him to be transported by DeKalb EMS to the hospital where he was treated and released. Neither victim was seriously hurt in the attack.
Sheriff Ray gave no motive for the kidnapping and assault.