photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

John W. Brown

A Lawrence man was sentenced to 24 months of probation for his involvement in a kidnapping and sex crime case.

John Brown, 51, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated battery and criminal threat, both felonies, on Nov. 7. At that hearing, he told Judge James McCabria he had threatened to harm the victim — a woman who was 38 at the time — with a bat if she did not comply with the demands of his former co-defendant.

The details of the case have remained unclear. McCabria sealed the affidavit to avoid jeopardizing the victim’s mental and emotional well-being, and both defendants pleaded rather than proceeding to preliminary hearings. However, the judge has described the events as “heinous.”

Lawrence police responded to a report of suspicious activity in progress around 6:30 a.m. Jan. 19 at Hy-Vee, 4000 W. Sixth St. The victim was asking for help from a store employee, who called police, Sgt. Amy Rhoads previously told the Journal-World. The victim said she’d been held against her will and that, during that time, “a series of alleged criminal events took place.”

McCabria told Brown Friday that he believed substance abuse had played a role in Brown’s participation. Brown went through treatment during his case, and in September he told McCabria that he felt healthier and better about himself once he’d been clean for an extended period of time.

“I’ve been trying to keep that path I worked so hard for,” Brown told the judge Friday. “I’m sorry for what I did.”

Brown said he now has a steady job and a roof over his head.

“I will do the best job I can to be a decent citizen,” Brown said.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Alice Walker said Brown had helped in the case against BJ Lauri, Brown’s former co-defendant.

Lauri, 45, was sentenced Oct. 16 to 11 years and four months in prison after pleading down from three high-severity felonies, including rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated human trafficking, and four less severe offenses. Through the plea, he was convicted of kidnapping and aggravated sexual battery.

As part of Brown’s probation, he’ll need to submit to random drug tests. He faces an underlying sentence of 30 months in prison should his probation be revoked.

Brown was not accused of any sex crimes against the victim, but he is to have no contact with her.