A lone woman in a vehicle at Putnam Landing Park flagged down a patrolling Zanesville Police Officer telling the officer that a man was holding her against her will.

Prior to the woman catching the officer’s attention on Oct. 13, 2018, the patrolman encountered a man that was walking out of the park with a gas can. The man stated that he had run out of gas and would be back soon.

When the officer approached the signalling woman, who appeared to be upset and shaking, she indicated that the man, identified as Joseph Hicks, had been assaulting her and holding her against her will as the two drove around Muskingum County for about 24 hours, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch said in court.

The woman, who had previously dated Hicks, was not wearing any shoes and had urinated herself. She told the officer that at one point, Hicks took off his belt and choked her with it until she was unconscious, Welch stated.

Hicks had also taken the woman’s wallet, which contained her credit cards.

He also had told the woman to stay down and be quiet when the duo was in the car and encountered a woman who allowed Hicks to use her gas can.

Believing Hicks’ threat that he had a gun, the victim obliged.

Before the 24 hour drive and assaults ensued, the woman had willingly entered a vehicle with Hicks as he told the victim that he would get her money that she was owed.

Monday afternoon, Hicks pleaded guilty to one first-degree felony count of kidnapping with a three-year mandatory firearm specification, one second-degree felony count of felonious assault with a one-year mandatory firearm specification, one third-degree felony count of having a weapon under disability and one fifth-degree felony count of theft of a credit card.

During his plea hearing, Hicks informed Cottrill that he was currently on post release control after being released from incarceration on a separate case.

His bond was continued at $500,000 pending sentencing.