RADFORD – A Pulaski man convicted in 2024 of abduction with the intent to defile, conspiracy to abduct to defile and sex trafficking in Radford has received a 30-year active sentence.
According to Radford Commonwealth’s Attorney Dashawn Tucker was sentenced Friday, Mar. 28 in Radford Circuit Court. Radford City Circuit Court Judge J.T. Showalter Jr. sentenced Tucker to 50 years with 20 suspended. The discretionary sentencing guidelines recommend 15 years to 37 years.
“The victim, Catlyn Wilhelm passed away Aug. 6, 2022 before the trial,” Rehak said Friday via email. “Her absence allowed the Commonwealth to play Wilhelm’s recorded sworn testimony from preliminary On Jan. 10, 2022, Tucker abducted Wilhelm from the parking lot of Food City in Radford, taking her to Henry County.
“Authorities there responded to a 911 text for help,” Rehak explained at the time of Tucker’s conviction. “Deputies arrived at a desolate trailer where two young females told of being abducted and repeatedly sexually assaulted by strangers to satisfy or “work off” a monetary debt. Dramatic body camera video of the rescue was played for the jury.”
At trial, the Commonwealth presented evidence Wilhelm owed Tucker money, and Tucker in turn owed a cohort named Waylon Cox money. With Tucker’s debt collection efforts heating up, Wilhelm went into hiding to avoid Tucker. Tucker went hunting for Catlyn over several weeks, even going to each of her parents’ homes. With Wilhelm unable to pay the $2,000, Tucker negotiated with Cox to trade the two girls for Cox “to use” in exchange for Tucker’s debt.
Radford Food City surveillance video recorded Tucker parking in a manner to block Wilhelm’s car with his automobile and captured them together in Tucker’s automobile. Tucker took Wilhelm and another woman to a secluded location in Floyd County and turned over the women to Cox.
