HOUTZDALE – Two men are in Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail each after they allegedly kidnapped a Houtzdale man who owed one of them money Monday.
Richard A. Rauch, 47, of Hyde, and Randall C. Bolton, 41, of Clearfield, are reported to have gone to the Houtzdale man’s home at about 8 p.m. Monday, forcibly taking him to a wooded area where shots were fired.
Statements collected from those involved and included in court papers say that the alleged victim invited the two men into his home after they knocked at the door.
Bolton grabbed him while Rauch held a handgun. Bolton told the man that he wanted his money.
In a police interview, the alleged victim said he owed $190 to Bolton after he was supposed to buy pills for Bolton “about four years ago.”
The two men forced the victim from the home and got into a truck.
Court papers say the men drove to an area off of state Route 153 in Boggs Township where the man was dragged from the truck by Bolton who hit, kicked and hit in the head, face and chest with what the victim said was a metal ball on the end of a rope.
According to paperwork filed Tuesday, “Rauch and Bolton then fired a shot from the handgun in close proximity to the victim’s head. The victim then fled the area on foot with Rauch firing one shot from the handgun in the air.”
When police spoke with Bolton early Tuesday morning, he said he went to the victim’s house and later for a ride “to discuss some things.”
The plan, according to the court papers, was laid out at a Clearfield-area bar. Rauch told police that he and Bolton were at R-Bar in Hyde Monday night where they came up with a plan “to put the fear of God” into the victim.
Rauch said that not only did the victim owe Bolton money, he stole gold chain from him.
The men decided to leave the bar, going to Rauch’s home to get a handgun.
After taking the victim from his home, the men got into a truck where Rauch kept the handgun pointed at the victim as they traveled to Boggs Township.
Rauch admitted to kicking the victim, saying he could not see what Bolton was using to hit him.
He also said that it was Bolton who fired two shots from the handgun, but they were not near the alleged victim’s head as he told police. The alleged victim said one shot was fired next to his ear and another was fired as he ran through the woods. The victim was able to flag down a m along the road who took him back to Houtzdale.
Rauch also apologized for his actions, saying, “I’m sorry that I did this.”
The men each face felony counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy along with misdemeanor charges of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats.
The men will appear for preliminary hearings Jan. 31 at CCJ.
