Detroit man will serve minimum of six years for multiple felonies
LAPEER COUNTY — The Detroit man who kidnapped and threatened his ex-wife in and outside of her Almont home in February 2020, was sentenced in Lapeer Circuit Court Thursday, June 9 to serve a minimum of six years in prison.
Lapeer County Prosecutor John Miller reported that Jerome Fahner, now 53, must also pay attorney fees and court costs totaling $2,026.
It was on Feb. 20, 2020, that Fahner kidnapped his former wife at gunpoint and threatened to kill both her and himself.
An original report from former Almont Police Sgt. Laura Black said the abduction took place at around 6:45 a.m. at the woman’s residence on Kidder Rd.
Black’s police report indicated that it was almost four hours later that Warren Police received a 911 call from the then 49-year-old Almont woman.
Police reported that the victim was abducted shortly after putting her grandchildren on the morning school bus.
Sgt. Black’s report stated that when the woman walked back into her home, the suspect confronted her and held a gun to her head.
The same report indicated that Fahner had told her to bring along some warm clothes and be prepared for a long, cold day and that “it was going to be the last day of both of their lives.”
According to the report, Fahner took took the keys to the woman’s van and threw her cell phone behind a cabinet before directing her to get in the back seat of the van.
The report stated that while Fahner observed her in the rearview mirror, he drove to an ATM at a Comerica Bank branch at 8 Mile Rd. and Mound Rd., where he transferred $500 into his own account.
While Fahner was making the bank transaction, the victim saw an opportunity to escape.
Using an extra key that she had in her possession, the victim hopped into the driver’s seat and began driving off, while simultaneously blasting the horn to attract attention.
At that point, Fahner tried to climb into the passenger’s seat, but became frightened and jumped out of the vehicle.
He fled into an alley behind the bank, where he attempted to bury a .38-caliber revolver, which was later found by police.
Meanwhile, the woman took off running and went to a friend’s house in Warren, where she called 911.
It was around 5 p.m. that Detroit Police apprehended and arrested Fahner near his mother’s home on the city’s east side.
He was then transferred to Lapeer County Jail, where he was incarcerated and later arraigned on the charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, home invasion, extortion, unlawful imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, interference with electronic communication and seven felony weapons violations.
