Former Arizona beauty queen sentenced to two years in prison in torture-kidnap case

Former Arizona beauty queen sentenced to two years in prison in torture-kidnap case

2010-12-10 07:27:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

TUCSON, ARIZONA (BNO NEWS) -- A former Arizona beauty queen and law school student on Thursday was sentenced to two years in prison for her involvement in the kidnap and torture of her former boyfriend, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

Kumari Fulbright, 28, pleaded guilty last December to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and aggravated assault as part of a plea agreement that determined the prison sentence. However, her plea agreement was almost revoked after a judge considered she had not lived up to the terms of it.

The former beauty queen was also sentenced to six years of probation. Her defense attorney asked for 18 months of probation but Pima County Superior Court Judge Michael Miller decided a much longer term.

According to the evidence shown in trial, Fulbright was dating Joshua Conway in the fall of 2007. She directed him to sell some jewelry that was given to her by former boyfriend Robert Ergonis, to which Conway complied.

Ergonis eventually came back for the jewelry and Fulbright lied to him and said that Conway stole and sold the jewels. Ergonis gathered two other men, David Radde and Larry Hammond in order to get the valuable items back.

Fulbright lured Conway into her apartment on December 8, 2007. Once inside, Ergonis and Radde attaked him while Hammond detained him. Fulbright alleged that they only intended to ask him where the jewelry was.

Conway was savagely beaten and cut with a knife. Furthermore, he was held at gunpoint for hours until he managed to escape. The four individuals involved were detained.

Ergonis was convicted on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated robbery charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week. Radde and Hammond entered deals and agreed to testify against Ergonis.

Fulbright also agreed to the same but prosecutors alleged that she did anything and everything to protect Ergonis and even told Radde what he should testify, thus violating her plea agreement.

The former beauty queen was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution and will be allowed to move to Florida when she serves her prison term.

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