Southeastern Massachusetts man sentenced to prison for kidnapping, tying up and beating victim

A southeastern Massachusetts man has been sentenced to over a decade in prison after an incident in 2022.

According to police, after a three-week jury trial, 37-year-old Anthony Russ of Hyannis was found guilty of multiple indictments including kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny from a person, as well as intimidation of a witness.

The indictments stemmed from the July 1, 2022, arrest of Russ by members of the Barnstable Police Department and Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement SWAT Team.

During the incident, which began at approximately 10:00 p.m. on June 30, 2022, and continued over the next several hours, Russ assaulted a 24-year-old victim in Hyannis. Russ beat the victim, blindfolded and zip tied the victim’s hands behind their back, and put them in the trunk of a car. After taking the victim out of the trunk of the car Russ held the victim against their will in the basement of a nearby house where he assaulted them with a large kitchen knife. Russ eventually released the victim threatening further harm if they were to report the nights events.

On July 1, 2022, the incident was reported to the Barnstable Police Department and then investigated by the Detective Unit with assistance from the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, and Yarmouth Police Department.

On Friday, Russ was sentenced in Barnstable Superior Court to a total of 19-20 years state prison followed by 3 years probation upon release. Russ was sentenced on 2 counts of Kidnapping, 2 counts of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, 2 counts of Assault and Battery, 1 count of Larceny from a Person, and 1 count of Intimidation of a Witness.