Three Lubbock Men Indicted for Aggravated Kidnapping for a Reward

Three Lubbock men were indicted on Tuesday, January 26th, 2021 for aggravated kidnapping for a reward.

KAMC News reports it all started as a drug deal back in August 2020.

The unidentified victim went to meet with 22-year-old Steven Gabriel Martinez at his girlfriend's house so he could purchase marijuana. The victim arrived to find Martinez, 23-year-old Justice Jai Manahan and 20-year-old Paul Anthony Reyes-Cantu standing in front of the house.

The victim was told by Martinez that their brother owed him money, so they called their brother, saying he needed to come to the location to pay Martinez. However, reports say that all three men told the victim to get in the car.

It's then said that the victim called his stepfather, saying he was going to 45th Street and University Avenue and that they were traveling eastbound in the 5000 block of Slide Road. The stepfather began following Martinez's vehicle.

When the stepfather reached the 5000 block of 19th Street, he attempted to get in front of Martinez's vehicle to stop it. Martinez swerved, the stepfather swerved, and they both collided.

Police arrived on scene and arrested the three men. They were booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center. All three were able to post bond.