Investigators with the Perkasie Borough Police Department have made another arrest in connection with an alleged conspiracy to kidnap and rob a Sellersville teen’s ex-boyfriend earlier this month.
Josiah Ballard, 17, of King of Prussia, has been charged with felony conspiracy counts of kidnapping, robbery, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property, along with misdemeanor conspiracy counts of unlawful restraint, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, and simple assault, in connection with the investigation.
Court records show that Ballard will turn 18 years old in August, and he is currently free on $250,000 unsecured bail. Ballard is the second juvenile defendant to face adult charges stemming from the alleged incident, joining co-defendant Alisha Diehl, 17, of Sellersville, who turns 18 in June.
Police allege that Diehl lured her ex-boyfriend to the 300 block of Hughes Avenue in Sellersville at 5 a.m. on April 2 with the intent of hooking up. When the ex-boyfriend arrived, Diehl and her friend — identified as 19-year-old Julia Napoli, of Quakertown — entered his vehicle, offered to have a threesome, and used red duct tape to bind the victim’s hands and wrists, according to the complaint.
The victim stated that he became uncomfortable with the situation and attempted to break free of the bindings, when two males — identified as Ballard and 19-year-old Jordan Emmons, of Perkasie — entered the car and drove off with the two females and the victim in the back seat, the report states. The victim continued to attempt to loosen the bindings, at which point Ballard, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, allegedly brandished a firearm arm, pointed it at the victim and told him to stop.
The two men and two women attempted to find the victim’s wallet, and when they were unsuccessful, they attempted to open the victim’s phone so they could access his mobile banking information, police said.
The group continued driving for several hours before eventually dropping off Ballard somewhere in King of Prussia, the report states. The victim said at that time he pleaded with Diehl, Napoli, and Emmons to let him go and just take his car, however Napoli allegedly brandished a large kitchen knife and told the victim not to try anything.
They then began discussing what to do with the victim, including the alleged suggestion that they take him somewhere and kill him, police said.
Around 8:30 a.m., the vehicle pulled into a Lukoil gas station along the 800 block of Dekalb Pike in Upper Merion Township, at which point the victim was able to break free of the bindings and escape his captors, the report states. The victim then used the store’s phone to dial 9-1-1, and he was subsequently transported to the Perkasie Borough Police Department for an interview.
Police noted that the victim had red marks on his wrists and pieces of red duct tape stuck to him at the time of the interview, the report states.
Investigators located the victim’s locked vehicle near his apartment complex in Phoenixville at 10:15 a.m. and noted there was a large kitchen knife lying on the driver’s floorboard, keys in the center console and a roll of red duct tape. After being transported to Perkasie Police, the victim recovered his phone from the vehicle and showed the text exchange between himself and Diehl inviting him over to hook up, the report states.
Police served an arrest warrant at Diehl’s Hughes Avenue home on April 3, at which point they found her located underneath her bed in her bedroom, according to charging documents. Also found underneath the bed was Emmons, who was still allegedly wearing the same hoodie that was captured on surveillance at the King of Prussia Lukoil gas station where the victim fled to safety, investigators said.
The complaint states that upon being interviewed by police, Diehl confessed her involvement and identified Emmons and Napoli as both being involved.
Diehl, Emmons, and Napoli, have all been charged with felony conspiracy counts of kidnapping, robbery, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property, along with misdemeanor conspiracy counts of unlawful restraint, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, false imprisonment, and simple assault.
All three remain in custody at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of 10% of $500,000 cash bail.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
Two More Teen Suspects Charged in Sellersville Kidnapping Conspiracy, Additional Details Released
North Penn Student Among Three Killed in Weekend Shootings in Philadelphia
Two Teens Charged After Stealing DoorDash Driver’s Vehicle During Delivery, Police Say
Suspect Sought in Saturday Morning Shooting on Sumneytown Pike that Left Two Wounded
