WRFA NEWS BULLETIN: DA’s Office Indicts Aug. 12 Kidnapping Suspect

Eric Chant

Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley held a press conference this afternoon in Jamestown City Hall to announce that 22 year old Eric Chant of Jamestown has been indicted on five felony counts related to the abduction and sexual assault of a 12 year old Girl in the city of Jamestown on Aug. 12, 2011.

LISTEN TO PRESS CONFERENCE HERE
(approx. 15:30 long)

Chant has been charged with one count of predatory sexual assault against a child, a Class A-II felony; one count of kidnapping in the second degree, a class B felony; two counts of rape in the first degree, both Class B felonies; and one count of burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony. Chant faces a sentence of up to 25 years to life in State Prison if convicted of the Class A-II Felony charge. No other additional charges are expected.

Chant was arraigned Thursday Morning, Sept. 1 in the Chautauqua County Court in front Justice John Ward. Ward set bail at $500,000 cash or $1,00,000 property bond. Chant was remanded to the Chautauqua County Jail. A pre-motion conference is scheduled for Sept. 19, 2011. Chant was arrested on unrelated charges days after the incident took place and was announced a suspect in the case on Aug. 22.

Foley expressed his gratitude to the Jamestown Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the New York State Police for their work and cooperation in putting the case together.

Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph Gerace,  Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings, and FBI Special Agent Steven Lancer also spoke during the press conference. Chief Snellings also expressed his thanks to the public for helping in the case.

During the early morning of Aug. 12, police say Chant allegedly abducted a 12-year-old Jamestown girl from her home early and – with use of a stolen Dodge Caravan – drove her to a deserted road in the town of Poland. She eventually escaped and found help at a nearby residence.