Douglas County prosecutors charge 3 Lawrence residents in connection with burglary, kidnapping

Douglas County prosecutors Monday filed charges against three Lawrence residents in connection with a weekend burglary and kidnapping in the 1400 block of Haskell Avenue.

Prosecutors filed charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and aggravated burglary against 34-year-old Leon E. Kimball.

Lawrence police accuse Kimball and co-defendant Joshua D. Haynes, 22, of breaking into the residence Saturday night while three people were inside. Kimball was accused of forcing one resident to go with him and two co-defendants to try to find someone else.

But the men later returned to the residence, and prosecutors accuse Kimball of punching another resident, who required stitches.

Prosecutors also accuse Tasha M. Barnes, 34, of participating in the burglary and kidnapping. Haynes and Barnes, 34, were charged with one count each of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary.

The defendants remained in jail Monday night and were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.