Final suspect in kidnapping that resulted in man losing fingers pleads guilty
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS — A woman admitted to driving the getaway car in a kidnapping case that resulted in a local man losing several fingers.
Sarah Oden, 23, of Idaho Falls pleaded guilty to aggravated battery Tuesday, March 1, in district court.
She was among five people charged in connection with the kidnapping and attack of Brandon Bykonen on Aug. 27. Bykonen says he was blindfolded and tied up before being driven to the foothills of Bonneville County.
When they arrived, Bykoken said, he was placed face down in the dirt and forced to extend his bound hands in front of him. That’s when Devan Crawford is accused of repeatedly “hacking” Bykonen’s hands with a hatchet – resulting in a loss of several fingers.
“I drove the car away after they attacked him,” Oden told the court.
Oden’s original charges were kidnapping in the first degree and mayhem, both felonies. In September of last year the mayhem charge Oden faced was amended to aggravated battery.
In district court Tuesday, Oden pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, and the first-degree kidnapping charge she faced will be dismissed.
Oden is scheduled to be sentenced April 20. As part of the plea agreement, Bonneville County Prosecutor Danny Clark is recommending a fixed term of two years in prison, with a indeterminate term to be argued at sentencing. Seventh District Judge Bruce Pickett will ultimately decide the sentence.
Related Content
One of five suspects in kidnapping, torture case pleads guilty
4 suspected in kidnapping have court dates postponed
Video: Hatchet victim describes attack
Suspects in kidnapping, hatchet attack plead not guilty
Guilty pleas for two accused of kidnapping, using hatchet to attack man