Berlon Muse

A Lawrence man accused of kidnapping his girlfriend in November 2007 was convicted of criminal restraint Thursday morning in Douglas County District Court, prosecutors said.

A jury deliberated for less than four hours before returning the guilty verdict against Berlon Muse, 28, District Attorney Charles Branson said.

In the trial that began Tuesday, prosecutors said Muse’s former girlfriend was held against her will in the bathroom of her south Lawrence apartment, strip-searched and battered, in an attempt to find a large amount of money.

During a January preliminary hearing, 22-year-old Ashley Houk testified that Muse and two women held her for 15 hours and that her fingers were struck with a meat-tenderizing hammer after she stole money from Muse to buy crack cocaine. The victim eventually escaped and called police.

A defense attorney claimed Muse wanted his money back, but that other people restrained the woman, prosecutors said.

Muse faces one year in Douglas County Jail and a $2,500 fine, Branson said in a news release. Muse is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Jack Murphy on Monday. He has been jailed since Nov. 29, 2007.

A mistrial was declared in the case in September, when a witness violated a judge’s order.

Runita Bell was previously sentenced to 52 months in state prison in connection with the incident. Aaron Streitberger and Annetta Moten were previously sentenced to probation.