December 6th 2024.
A man named Joseph Lee Beecher was recently sentenced to 22 years in federal prison by Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This sentence came after Beecher was convicted by a jury in August for kidnapping, carjacking, and firearm charges. Originally, he could have faced life in prison for these crimes. As part of his sentencing, he was also ordered to pay $5,306 in restitution.
The kidnapping took place on the property of former New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, in February of 2022. Beecher, who was working as a handyman at a hotel in Colorado, had recently been let go from his job. He then proceeded to break into his employer's home and steal two rifles, including an AR-15. It is believed that he was looking for Bloomberg, although his exact motive for this is still unclear.
On the day of the kidnapping, Beecher crashed his pickup truck through the gate of Bloomberg's ranch. However, the media mogul was not there at the time. Instead, Beecher abducted a housekeeper who was working at the ranch. They then drove to the Denver area and eventually ended up in a motel room in Cheyenne, about 200 miles away from the Bloomberg property.
Fortunately, the kidnapped woman was found unharmed the following morning after authorities traced her iPad to the motel where they saw Beecher's truck. A SWAT team was able to rescue her and arrest Beecher. At his three-day trial, Beecher chose to represent himself and was subsequently convicted. He was then returned to custody and is currently being held at the Scotts Bluff County jail in Gering, Nebraska.
Beecher's motives for targeting Bloomberg are still unclear, but prosecutors believe that he was determined to kill the billionaire. The court appointed a standby counsel for Beecher, Laramie attorney Thomas Fleener, after he expressed a desire to represent himself. However, Fleener declined to comment on the sentencing.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of attempted kidnapping and the importance of staying vigilant. Thankfully, the victim was able to escape unharmed due to the quick actions of law enforcement. Let's all continue to stay informed and aware of the crime happening in our communities. Sign up to receive daily crime news straight to your inbox.
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