A driver of an inmate transport van in North Carolina is facing kidnapping charges after he abandoned his trip and refused to stop with the prisoners. The driver, Joshua James Pinquet, 21, quit mid-trip and ignored the intended destination. He has been charged with felony second-degree kidnapping and larceny by employee. The inmates were eventually transferred to another transport company and continued their journey. WNCT reported
A driver of an inmate transport van in North Carolina has been charged with kidnapping after abruptly quitting his job and refusing to stop at the intended destination with the prisoners. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning when the owner of the inmate transport company alerted the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office about the off-course van on Interstate 40 in Statesville. The driver, Joshua James Pinquet, 21, from Orlando, Florida, had informed the owner through text messages that he was quitting and would not stop in Hickory as planned.
The van, which had four inmates locked inside, was eventually stopped by deputies on I-40. Both the driver and another employee were detained, while the inmates were ensured to be secured in the van. Pinquet has been charged with five counts of felony second-degree kidnapping and felony larceny by employee. He is currently being held without bond, and no comment has been made by his attorney yet.
The inmates were later transferred to other personnel from the transport company, who continued the journey to their destinations in Florida. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office has successfully resolved the situation, ensuring the safety of the inmates and bringing the driver to justice..