Gilford kidnapper agrees to serve minimum 10 years

By GAIL OBER, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — A former Gilford man will serve a minimum of 10 years in prison for holding his estranged girlfriend hostage in her home for more than a day by keeping her handcuffed to a bed or shut in a closet, and threatening her with a loaded handgun.

Russell Holliday, 56, entered into a capped plea Tuesday in Belknap County Superior Court during a settlement conference with Judge Peter Fauver. A capped plea means that the state agrees to a maximum sentence in exchange for a plea bargain provided a judge agrees.

Holliday agreed to serve 3 1/2 to 7 years for one count of kidnapping, 3 ½ to 7 years for being in possession of a handgun, and to 3 to 6 years for felony-level criminal threatening. The sentences will be served consecutively, meaning when one sentence ends, the other begins.

He also agreed to serve 3 ½ to 7 years for a second kidnapping charge, which was suspended and could be imposed up to 10 years after his release date pending his good behavior.

In exchange, the state agreed to drop the charges for attempted aggravated felonious sexual assault and two Class A misdemeanor assaults.

After 26 hours of being held by Holliday, the victim managed to get the gun away from him and hid it in her boot. She later told him she wanted a cigarette, and when he agreed, she took his car and fled to the Gilford Police Department, where she sheltered in a safe room just off the lobby until officers, who were on a different call, could get back.

By negotiating the plea, the state avoids retraumatizing the victim by having her testify in open court.

Holliday is scheduled for sentencing on May 25 at 10 a.m. In the interim, he remains in the Belknap County House of Corrections on $100,000 cash bail.