CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A Suffolk man who attempted to kidnap a woman near the University of Virginia was sentenced to prison in a Charlottesville Circuit Court Tuesday.
James Robert Allen was given an active sentence of 25 years in prison for charges of felony abduction by force or intimidation and malicious wounding. Five years of Allen's sentence was suspended on the conditions of five years of intensive supervised probation and 30 years of good behavior.
According to an October 2023 Charlottesville Police Department news release, they responded to a call of a "disorder" around 9:40 p.m. a little over a mile from UVA grounds at the 800 block of Cabel Avenue. They say they then found a UVA student who said a man she did not know put her in a car.
During a press conference days after the incident, Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis said the student fought her way out of Allen's car causing it to hit multiple other vehicles and trees.
Police said Allen had strangled the young woman before putting her in his vehicle.
On Oct. 5, 2023, Allen was taken into custody around 12:10 p.m. in Louisa, Virginia, more than 30 miles away from Charlottesville.
At the time, Chief Kochis said it was unclear why Allen was in Charlottesville.
In court on Tuesday, Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania stated, “While this active sentence is significant, so is the underlying conduct. Thankfully ES fought her way free and helped ensure that Mr. Allen will not hurt anyone else for a very long time."