Two Toledo residents were sentenced to three years each in prison on abduction charges after pleading
guilty to their involvement in a kidnapping case last year.
Nicholas Martinez, 19, and Brittany Long, 20, appeared separately in the courtroom of Judge Robert
Pollex.
The pair pleaded guilty to a single count of abduction each – an amended charge as part of a plea
agreement – in March in connection to an Aug. 18-19, 2013, incident.
They had originally been indicted on one count each of kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
According to authorities, on Aug. 18, a University of Toledo student was contacted by codefendant Hui
Zhang, 23, Toledo, online about going along on a trip to Cedar Point the next day.
On Aug. 19, the student was picked up at his Toledo residence by Zhang and Long; the group then drove to
pick up Martinez and also codefendant, Blake Long, 21, Toledo. Martinez reportedly had a knife in his
possession during the incident.
Instead of going to Cedar Point, the group reportedly drove the victim to a vacant home in Bowling Green
where he was robbed of his credit card. The card was then used to purchase items in the city, and group
members also reportedly attempted to withdraw money from a bank account with the card.
The victim was later taken to a Lucas County hotel, where he was held while members of the group
attempted to extort ransom money from his relatives in China.
They were apparently unable to do so due to a language barrier, and the victim was later released
unharmed.

Blake Long also pleaded to one count of abduction and is to be sentenced July 22.
The Longs and Martinez, as part of their plea agreement, are to testify against Zhang, who is set to go
on trial in the case Aug. 25. She stands charged with kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
In court on Tuesday, Martinez’s lawyer, Peter Rost, indicated his client lacked a high school education,
and had a substance abuse problem; additionally, Martinez is the primary caregiver for his 7-month-old
child. The mother works during the day.
Also, said Rost of the case, “he was the first to abandon the activity, albeit hours later.”
He asked that Martinez be given counseling.
Prosecuting attorney Gwen Howe-Gebers, while not asking for a specific sentence, stated that in the
incident the quartet decided to “with a knife extort money from the victim.”
“All I want is to go home and take care of my son,” Martinez said.
Brittany Long’s attorney, Eric Zeiger, noted her substance abuse problems and mental health issues, and
pointed out a lack of communication involved in the commission of the crime.
“She probably shouldn’t have gone along with what happened,” he said.
Howe-Gebers, again not suggesting a particular sentence, contended that Long did not seem to take
responsibility for her actions in a pre-sentence report prepared prior to the hearing.
Indicating she is in therapy and taking medication, Long said “I know I was wrong.”
“I am sorry,” she said, “and I did make an impact on someone’s life, and I realize that.”
Pollex, after pronouncing sentence for each, noting that there would be the possibility of judicial
release in their cases.