A La Center man accused of kidnapping his estranged wife had his bail set at $1 million during an initial appearance Monday in Clark County Superior Court.
Judge Suzan Clark appointed a defense attorney to represent Richard J. Godsy, 47, whose arraignment was set for Sept. 21. Godsy faces an allegation of first-degree assault.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a La Center police officer responded about 11:15 p.m. to the 1700 block of East Heritage Loop for a report of a minor disturbance. Someone at the address said Godsy and the alleged victim were fighting, and then the victim disappeared, only to return home a short time later crying and injured.
Godsy had been released from prison within the last year after serving time for unlawful imprisonment and tampering with a witness, both domestic violence-related convictions, and violating a felony domestic violence court order, La Center Police Chief Marc Denney previously told The Columbian. Denney said Godsy’s estranged wife was the victim of those charges.
On Thursday night, Godsy and his estranged wife met in the driveway of her home so he could give her the title to a car and she could give him a cellphone. When she was in the car, Godsy allegedly locked the doors and drove off with her inside, Denney said.
The woman begged to be let out of the car, and told police that Godsy said he was going to the store to buy beer. When he continued to refuse to let her out, she “immediately felt scared, as she felt something was off,” the affidavit says.
She began to scream, and Godsy said, “One of us is going to the grave, and the other is going to prison,” the affidavit says.
Godsy’s hand was behind her headrest, and the woman believed he had a knife, according to the affidavit. She “discreetly found the door unlock button, opened the passenger door and jumped out while it was moving,” the affidavit says. The vehicle was going about 25 mph, according to the affidavit.
The woman then ran to a car that was driving behind them and asked the driver for help. The driver was hesitant at first but let her in the car when he saw Godsy walking toward them, Denney said.
