STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Emotions were running high on Wednesday in Monroe County, where two kidnapping suspects were in court.
Davaun Jackson of East Stroudsburg and Isaiah Rogers-Keeney of Middletown both had preliminary hearings.
In a red jumpsuit, 29-year-old Davaun Jackson was walked into district court in Smithfield Township set to answer to a slew of charges, including rape, kidnapping, and robbery.
"I can tell you I am innocent, and I will prove I am innocent," said Jackson.
Newswatch 16 asked Jackson what his message was to the victims as he was heading into the hearing. This is what he had to say.
"Please tell them the actual story," Jackson added.
Jackson's alleged accomplice, 19-year-old Isaiah Rogers-Keeney of Middletown, also appeared in court. Both men face charges in connection with holding four women in shipping containers located at a former airfield near East Stroudsburg. Investigators say that is where Jackson bound the victims with rope, raped two of the women, and threatened to kill them. The youngest victim is just 17 years old.
Police say two of the women witnessed a shooting in Wilkes-Barre. According to court paperwork, Jackson and Rogers-Keeney brought the women back to Monroe County in an effort to silence them.
"I am innocent; I am sorry that what has been put out there is not the truth. There is more information that was not put out there," said Jackson.
In court, the day got off to a heated start. Family members of the victims lashed out at Jackson as he walked to the courtroom. Once inside, he claimed to have been injured. An ambulance was called, and Jackson was evaluated but remained in court. Shortly after, another altercation broke out among family members of Rogers-Keeney and the victim's families. After a brief delay, the preliminary hearing resumed, and three of the four victims eventually testified, detailing the alleged kidnapping and assaults for the judge. A lawyer for Rogers-Keeney spoke after the hearing.
"He feels horrible about what happened to those girls, and he was not a part of it," said Gail Marr, representing Isaiah Rogers Keeney. "I believe justice will be served in the end."
A judge says the charges against both men will move to trial, but so far, no trial date has been set.