Man who helped kidnap the wrong NJ guy sentenced to 12 years
William Barger — the man who helped orchestrate the mistaken-identity kidnapping of a Newton pet store owner — has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison, the New Jersey Herald reports.
Barger pleaded guilty to first-degree accomplice liability last year, admitting he'd conspired with four other people to kidnap a Bergen County man named Jeffrey Mulleranother accomplice, Roy Slates, complained swindled him out of $500,000 in a land deal. Slates pleaded guilty to his role in 2010 and awaits sentencing.
But when a trio of men tried to kidnap Muller, they accidentally picked up a Newton pet store owner with the same name. They zapped Muller with a stun gun and jammed him into trunk of their car, authorities have said — he escaped during a 1,200-mile ride to Missouri.
Two of the three men accused of carrying out the kidnapping have pleaded guilty; a third awaits trial.
Louis C. Hochman is digital managing editor for NJ1015.com. Reach him at louis.hochman@townsquaremedia.com or on Twitter @LouisCHochman.