Victim: They were taking me to Maine to beat me up in the woods and kill me

Garrett Pehowic of Rochester is escorted out of Strafford County Superior Court by a Sheriff's Deputy on Thursday after his arraignment on kidnapping and assault charges. (Rochester Voice photo)

DOVER - Three men accused of kidnapping and assaulting a 21-year-old Rochester man told him moments before he jumped from a moving car in East Rochester they were taking him to Maine "to beat him up in the woods and kill him," according to a police affidavit.

The suspects, Dylan Madore, 22, of 58A Chestnut St., and Garrett Pehowic, 21, of 17B Knight St., both of Rochester; and Anthony M. Smith, 23, of 193 Pleasant St, Laconia, remain held on $50,000 cash bail following their arraignments in Strafford County Superior Court on Thursday.

Police first became involved around 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday after a 911 call reported an adult being kidnapped. At the time, it was stated that a 21-year-old male had been abducted and beaten by three people. The call stated the male was then forced into a vehicle, but was able to break a window and escape.

Defense counsel Bob Watkins confers with kidnap and assault suspect Anthony Smith at his arraignment and bail hearing on Thursday. (Rochester Voice photo)

Madore stands charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to commit second degree assault, possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled drug; while Pehowic was charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit second degree assault and Smith was charged with kidnapping and second degree assault.

At least one of the suspects, Madore, was friends with the victim, but on Wednesday when the two met up to "hang out" at Madore's residence, he accused the victim of stealing $4,000, according to the affidavit.

Moments later Pehowic and Smith, whom the victim also recognized, came up from behind him and began punching him in the face and all over his body, the affidavit states.

At some point Smith allegedly began choking the victim, which was corroborated by marks a responding officer found on his throat.

Dylan Madore (Rochester Police photo)

The victim, in an effort to show he was innocent, said he'd take them to a local bank ATM and his own residence to show them he didn't have the money, so all four got in Smith's gold Cadillac and drove to check the account balances.

After they saw the money wasn't there, however, instead of heading to the victim's home they headed down Highland Street toward East Rochester and the Maine border.

The victim said he then became increasing worried for his well-being and tried to unlock the door, prompting Madore to grab him and pull him back. It was during this time that they said they were going to kill him in Maine, the victim alleges in the affidavit.

As he became increasingly worried for his safety, the victim again tried to reach for the door as they were approaching the border. As Madore, who was sitting in the back seat behind the driver, pulled him back again, the victim said he was able to kick out the rear door window, break free and jump out of the window to freedom.

The three did not pursue him, and the victim said he could hear Smith say, "Let him go" as the car drove off.

The victim called police from the Eastside Cumberland Farms. He was later taken to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with what were described as nonlife threatening injuries.

He also told police that Madore was a drug dealer who sold marijuana and cocaine, which would account for him having large amounts of money at his residence. Police executed a search warrant and found quantities of both drugs in his apartment.

Madore waived his arraignment on Thursday, while Pehowic and Smith both appeared with their defense counsel.

Smith's defense attorney, Bob Watkins of Portsmouth, argued that his client was not a danger to the community, that he worked full time and that at this point all the charges were merely allegations. He also noted that his client is said to have been the one who told the others to "let him go." He requested a $10,000 cash bail, however, Judge Mark S. Howard decided instead to reduce the bail from $75,000 to $50,000.

Meanwhile, Pehowic's defense attorney asked for his $50,000 bail to be reduced to $1,000, but a long rap sheet including burglary, assault and theft prevented that, Judge Howard decided.

Pehowic's large contingent of family in the courtroom collectively groaned at the finding.