Cranston couple held on bail for alleged kidnapping
By Sean Cahill
A
State Police say Niesha Bessell, age 29, and Michael Gomes, age 28, of
According to a press release, just after midnight Wednesday morning state police stopped a vehicle on
Police observed Bessell and Gomes in the front of the vehicle and a female passenger in the rear.
The troopers observed the rear passenger shaking and not making eye contact. Police say she then used her cellphone to communicate with them by typing “GET ME OUT THE CAR”.
State Police say they removed the woman from the vehicle where she told them she had been kidnapped and had previously been forced into prostitution by Bessell and Gomes.
During the course of the investigation the victim told police she had escaped from Bessell and Gomes over a year ago after being force into prostitution.
State Police say the victim was lured into meeting the couple that night when she was abducted. The motor vehicle stop happened about 20 minutes later.
Bessell and Gomes are charged with of Kidnapping, Trafficking of Persons for Force Labor or Commercial Sexual Activity, Simple Assault, and two counts of Possession of a Weapon other than a Firearm (a knife over 3”).
In court on Thursday morning, Bessell was held on $75,000 bail with surety, and Gomes was held on $50,000 with surety.
(C) WLNE/TV 2015
