BENDER
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A local man accused of kidnap and rape is at is currently at Tri-County Regional Jail, being held on a $1-million bond.
Jason Guy Bender, 40, of Marysville, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of felonious assault, kidnapping, rape and having weapons under a disability. The court set his bond at $1-million.
Assistant Union County Prosecutor Terry Hord requested the seven-figure bond.
“He is a risk,” Hord said. “He fled. … He threatened to kill the victim.”
The charges stem from an alleged incident June 28 and 29. Before police could arrive at the scene, Bender took off, allegedly going to Indiana. Last week he was indicted. Early Sunday morning Bender was arrested in Putnam County after leading authorities on a multi-county chase.
Hord told the court that after he was captured, Bender said that if he ever got out of prison, he would kill the victim.
“He does not need to be out,” said Hord.
Bender did not have an attorney at the hearing. He told court officials he would be talking with an attorney today. Hord said that if an attorney wants to argue the bond, that is their prerogative.
“Based on his overall conduct, based on his criminal history, based on the underlying conduct in this case, based on the threats he made on the victim’s life and based on the threat he poses to the community, I asked for the bond and I certainly think it is appropriate,” Hord said.
On June 29, the Union County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a family member about a 31-year-old woman who was allegedly restrained against her will for 12 to 14 hours at a home in the 13,000 block of Watkins Road.
Because of Bender’s violent past, Marysville’s tactical team was used to get into the home but Bender was gone by that time.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton said that on Sunday morning, a deputy from the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop Bender as part of a traffic stop. Bender allegedly did not stop and the officers pursued him into Putnam County.
Patton did say that his office was told Bender was “uncooperative and combative” when deputies were able to stop him. Additionally, Bender was allegedly uncooperative at Tri-County Regional Jail.
Bender has multiple assault, disorderly conduct and criminal damaging convictions as well as a felony aggravated assault conviction.
If convicted, Bender could spend more than 36 years in prison.