Burnsville Man Pleads Guilty To Violent Kidnapping

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of DONTAY LAVARICE REESE, 37, for kidnapping. REESE entered his guilty plea yesterday afternoon before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, in the early morning hours of August 6, 2017, REESE met the victim, T.M., in downtown Minneapolis. REESE offered T.M. a ride home; however, instead of driving her home, he drove in the wrong direction into Wisconsin. The defendant told the victim that he was going to take her “several states away” and use her to make money as a prostitute. The victim attempted to escape multiple times - each time she was captured and violently restrained by REESE. A family witnessed one of the escape attempts and called 911.

After the 911 call, Wisconsin State Patrol found the victim running out of a wooded area, with her wrists bound together, and screaming for help. REESE came out of the same wooded area shortly after, fully naked and attempted to cross the interstate on foot. He was taken into custody.

“The victim endured a terrifying experience, and has shown incredible courage throughout this process. Because of her courage a violent offender is no longer in our community,” said United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald.  

"Thoughts today are with the victim in this case who courageously helped put her assailant in prison for many years,” said Jill Sanborn, Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis Division of the FBI. “Thanks to the victim and diligent work of law enforcement from Minnesota and Wisconsin working with the FBI, justice was served and Mr. Reese was held accountable for his actions."

Sentencing has been scheduled for June 4, 2019, at 9:00 am in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Jackson County (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Department, Eau Claire County (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Department, and Minneapolis Police Department.

Assistant U.S Attorneys Angela Munoz-Kaphing and John Docherty are prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

DONTAY LAVARICE REESE, 37

Burnsville, Minnesota

Convicted:

    Kidnapping, 1 count