Hartford City man pleads guilty to kidnapping in exchange for rape, other charges dropped

Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press
·1 min read

HARTFORD CITY, Ind. — A Hartford City man this week pleaded guilty to a kidnapping charge after striking a deal with Blackford County prosecutors.

Anthoni C. Thornburgh, 31, was charged in February 2023 with crimes that included rape, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison.

But that count was changed this week to kidnapping resulting in bodily injury, a Level 5 felony with a maximum six-year sentence.

Blackford Circuit Court Judge Brian Bade on Monday took the plea agreement — which doesn't specify the length of Thornburgh's sentence — under advisement. A sentencing hearing was tentatively set for April 15.

The deal would result in dismissal of four other charges pending against Thornburgh — criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, possession of meth, theft and possession of marijuana.

More: Hartford City man gets 10 years for attempted slaying of wife

Thornburgh's accuser told police last year the Hartford City man arranged for an Uber driver to bring the accuser from Marion to Hartford City for a planned sexual encounter after they had met on an online social networking app.

But the accuser maintained they were held against their will in a room at a local motel, along North Walnut Street, and forced to perform a sex act at knifepoint.

The accuser said they escaped from the motel through a bathroom window.

Thornburgh denied any non-consensual sexual activity had taken place.

The theft charge stemmed from an allegation Thornburgh had taken his accuser's cellphone.

Hartford City police said they found meth and marijuana after receiving a warrant to search two rooms at the motel.

Thornburgh, formerly of Muncie, has no prior felony convictions in Indiana, according to court records.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ex-Muncie man pleads guilty to kidnapping in Blackford County