Man indicted in kidnap, baseball bat attack found not guilty on all charges

Windell Conley

DOVER - A Somersworth man indicted in a violent Rochester kidnapping and terrorizing case from two years ago was found not guilty on all charges on Wednesday.

Windell Conley, 35, of Mt. Auburn Lane, who had allegedly committed the crimes in concert with another man, Gabriel Valentin of Rochester, walked out of court a free man, his bail order vacated.

After some three days of testimony and arguments, the jury came back with not guilty verdicts on all charges that included criminal restraint, criminal threatening with a handgun, two counts of kidnapping, first-degree assault and simple assault.

Meanwhile, Valentin, 39, of Townsend Lane, will be in Strafford County Superior Court on Oct. 1 for a status conference as his case continues toward a possible trial.

According to the indictments, the victim was placed "in fear of imminent bodily injury or physical contact when Conley pointed a firearm at him."

The kidnap indictment alleges that Valentin in concert with Conley "knowingly confined (the victim) under their control with a purpose to terrorize (him)."

Conley had faced up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

The Aug. 18, 2016, incident began around 3:20 p.m. when Rochester Police responded to the area of 4 Townsend Lane for a report of a 911 hang up call. Prior to the caller hanging up they stated a male was "going crazy with a gun" and he was covered in blood.

As police were responding additional information was obtained clarifying the male had been kidnapped, a gun pointed at him and beaten with a baseball bat by at least two suspects. The male had injuries to his body consistent with his statements made to responding officers.

The victim was transported by ambulance to Frisbie Memorial Hospital for his injuries, which were described as nonlife-threatening.

Valentin could spend up to 15 years in jail on a kidnapping charge and up to 20 years on a criminal threatening charge if convicted.

Prosecutor Ken Burlage and defense counsel Sarah Landres were both not immediately available for comment.