"Vigilante Justice" Kidnapping Case Heads to Trial in Hernando County

A Hernando County School District employee and five others are accused of kidnapping, interrogating, and pistol-whipping three men they accused of stealing from Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold. The alleged crime occurred in early February, and detectives say Lyndell Hudson II, 26, of Brooksville, and five other defendants lured the three victims into an apartment and held them against their will at gunpoint.

The case, which authorities describe as “vigilante justice,” began on February 4, when Arianna Del Valle, 18, Arnold’s girlfriend, allegedly lured the victims inside an apartment along with her roommate Jasmine Randazzo, 19, a former star athlete in flag football and track at Weeki Wachee High School. The defendants believed the three victims , a chauffeur previously hired by Arnold and two of his acquaintances , had robbed an Airbnb Arnold had rented in Largo, Fla., on February 3. In a report filed with the Largo Police Department, Arnold claimed $100,000 in cash, an $80,000 necklace, designer bags, and his NFL-issued cell phone had been stolen.

The other defendants charged in the case are: Christion Williams, 24, Boakai Hilton, 23, Freddie Hughes, 27, and a 26-year-old Hernando County School District employee, whose name has not been released. All have pleaded not guilty to their charges, which include armed robbery, kidnapping, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The charges against each defendant are as follows:

Arianna Del Valle, 18: three counts of armed robbery and three counts of kidnapping
Jasmine Randazzo, 19: three counts of armed robbery and three counts of kidnapping
Christion Williams, 24: three counts of armed robbery, three counts of armed kidnapping, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
Boakai Hilton, 23: four counts of kidnapping with intent to harm or terrorize and four counts of armed robbery with a firearm
Freddie Hughes, 27: three counts of armed robbery, three counts of kidnapping with a firearm, and one count of kidnapping to harm or terrorize
Lyndell Hudson II, 26: charges not specified

The case is ongoing, and authorities are working to gather more information.

Originally reported by Hernando Sun

Sources: Hernando Sun