MAUMEE, Ohio (WTVG) – A second person in a group of six involved in the kidnapping and brutal beating of a man for days on end has been convicted.
Michael Esqueda took a plea deal on Thursday, pleading guilty to kidnapping and two counts of felonious assault. Other felonious assault and tampering with evidence charges will be dismissed at sentencing in exchange for the plea.
Charging documents show Esqueda was a part of a group of people who held a 26-year-old man captive and “essentially tortured” him for a week in March.
The others in the group include Aaron Bradshaw, Austin Bradshaw, David Cessna, Martina Jones and Chance Johnston.
They allegedly held the victim at the Red Roof Inn in Maumee and a home in Toledo.
The group allegedly hit him with a baseball bat, beat him, made him stand for extended periods of time and only allowed him to eat and drink once a day. The victim only slept for about 10 hours during a seven day stretch.
Cessna was convicted in September and is awaiting sentencing.
Maumee Chief of Police Josh Sprow told 13 Action News that Martina Jones was the one calling the shots in the kidnapping and assault — ordering the group to beat the victim.
Investigators found she had a romantic relationship with the other suspects, and had multiple children by them.
The chief went on to say that the suspects would let the victim out on occasion, but that’s what eventually led police to catch the six people.
“It’s clearly a strange situation when you have multiple adult men involved in a relationship with a female and then this whole felonious assault, kidnapping taking place. Definitely not something that is normally happening in our city,” Sprow said.
The victim received medical care after he was rescued from the conditions.
Esqueda is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 2.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-10-16 16:34:00
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