Trio deny kidnapping charges

A trio of Big Island men, charged with kidnapping and assault after an incident in early June on Kaua’i near Opaekaa Falls, pleaded not guilty in Fifth Circuit Court Tuesday.

Sammy Toney, Scott R. Schofield and Howard Redburn are accused of attacking Jeffrey Goslin, beating him with rocks, binding him with duct tape and forcing him into a van.

Authorities said the defendants believed the victim had fled Big Island after stealing marijuana from them.

The defendants reportedly claimed they were making a citizen’s arrest because their victim was a known sex offender, an accusation Goslin denied in court during his alleged attackers’ preliminary hearing.

A trial for the defendants is scheduled for Sept. 4. All three remain free on $2,000 bail each.