An informant paid to make buys for drug investigators testified Friday that he feared for his life after he was allegedly held against his will in a Lawrence apartment.
Justo Culian, who described himself as a transient, said he was beaten by one of four people who picked him up Jan. 3 in downtown Lawrence and drove him to an apartment in the 800 block of New York Street.
Culian testified in a preliminary hearing in Douglas County District Court against Lionell A. Sanders, 22; Lee S. Sanders Jr., 33; Quincy M. Sanders, 20; and Kim M. Sanders, 23. They face various charges ranging from aggravated kidnapping to aggravated battery. All remain in the Douglas County Jail on various bonds.
Culian said he had been a confidential informant making drug buys for the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Unit. The unit consists of officers from law enforcement agencies in Douglas, Jefferson and Franklin counties.
Culian said he thought the Sanderses were tipped off to him by a former girlfriend.
After being held in the apartment for most of the day Jan. 3, Culian said he smoked crack cocaine with the defendants. He said he seemed to be able to convince the Sanderses that he was not an informant and was allowed to leave.
Culian notified a police detective, and officers arrested the Sanderses that night after obtaining a search warrant for the New York Street apartment.
District Judge Robert Fairchild must decide if there is enough evidence to try the Sanderses on the charges. Fairchild was scheduled to make a ruling at 3 p.m. Monday.
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