Man charged with kidnapping woman, forcing her to prostitute herself

Staff report

NILES

Robert B. Leasock, 43, of Grant Street, was arraigned Tuesday in Niles Municipal Court on one count of rape and one count of kidnapping.

He is accused of holding a woman hostage for several days at his home and forcing her to prostitute herself so he could get drugs, Niles police said.

No plea was required since the charges are felonies. If convicted, he could get 20 years in prison.

The woman, 31, of Orwell, told police there was a gun involved and that she and Leasock were acquainted. The woman escaped Feb. 12 after finding a cellphone in the home that she used to call 911, according to a Niles police report.

Leasock was arrested Monday and placed in the Trumbull County Jail, where he remains in lieu of $75,000 bond.

Leasock has a lengthy arrest record at the jail, having been booked there 25 times dating back to 1991.

He was sentenced to two years in prison in 2008 after being convicted of felony escape. He was sentenced to three years in prison in 2005 on a burglary offense.