A Bronx tattoo parlor owner allegedly kidnapped his teenage mistress and brought her back to his Westchester home, where he, his wife and their babysitter all took turns beating the girl, prosecutors said Monday.
Hartsdale couple Wayne and Jasmine Barnes, and their kids’ babysitter, Lizbeth Cerrato-Sanchez, were all indicted on July 9 in connection with the violent May 16 abduction and assault of the 19-year-old victim who was employed at the tattoo shop, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office said.
“The level of depravity shown by the defendants in this case is astonishing,” District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement.
The shocking kidnapping began when Wayne Barnes, the 44-year-old owner of Sons of Ink tattoo parlor, and his teen employee — with whom he was romantically involved — got into an argument in his car on his way to dropping her off at her home in Queens, according to the prosecutor.
The tattoo artist allegedly shoved the teen out onto the side of the Grand Central Parkway.
He eventually let her back in the car, but began hitting her with an expandable metal baton, the DA said.
Wayne Barnes then turned around and picked up his 42-year-old wife in the Bronx while he continued to beat on the teen, prosecutors alleged.
The Barneses reached their Hartsdale home and dragged the victim inside to continue their attack, according to the district attorney’s office.
The twisted pair allegedly took the girl’s phone, so she was unable to call for help.
Then, Jasmine Barnes allegedly pushed the teen employee down a flight of stairs while also pulling her hair and hitting her with a metal baton, all while the couple’s children were also home, the DA’s office said.
The 19-year-old nanny, Cerrato-Sanchez, also allegedly slugged the victim in the face while the wife kept striking her with the baton.
The victim was eventually given back her phone and changed into clean clothes before she was allowed to call an Uber and flee, prosecutors said.
She went to the hospital for treatment the next day and reported the assault to Greenburgh police. Four days later, the trio of defendants was arrested.
Wayne and Jasmine Barnes were both hit with a mountain of charges, including kidnapping, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, with the wife is also facing a series of charges in the Bronx. They both have pleaded not guilty.
Jasmine Barnes’ lawyer, Stephen Riebling, said he and his client were “somewhat shocked by the wild accusations” and “we look forward to the day, hopefully sooner than later, where she’s vindicated and free of these charges.”
The Post has sought comment from Westchester Legal Aid, which is representing Wayne Barnes.
Cerrato-Sanchez, of Yonkers, was hit with second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon. An attorney was not listed for her, but she also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Read the full article here
