LISBON — A New Waterford man accused of kidnapping a woman from a daycare parking lot in Columbiana and forcing her to a secluded area while armed with a pistol entered a not guilty plea to the indictment, which includes a first-degree felony kidnapping charge.

Jason N. Hartsough, 48, state Route 558, appeared for arraignment and a pretrial Friday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Megan Bickerton, accompanied by his defense attorney Joseph Ohlin.

Besides the kidnapping charge, the indictment against Hartsough includes a firearm specification, fourth-degree felony disrupting public services and misdemeanor assault.

Hartsough is out of jail after posting a $50,000 cash or surety bond, which the judge continued.

A trial date of 9 a.m. Oct. 20 was set, along with a final status hearing at 9:20 a.m. Oct. 2.

An affidavit in county Municipal Court detailed what happened, with Hartsough allegedly kidnapping the woman from the parking lot of Small Wonders Daycare in Columbiana and causing her to believe he would cause her serious physical harm by forcing her to a secluded area against her will while armed with a pistol. The Columbiana Police affidavit said the victim was allegedly forced into the back of Hartsough’s truck when she arrived for work at the daycare at 5 a.m. April 6.

She allegedly texted coworkers at 6:30 a.m. “911,” “Jason,” and “Help.” Her car was found at the daycare with the keys nearby and flowers strewn about the ground. While police were coordinating with the county Sheriff’s Office for a suspected person who had an alleged turbulent history with the victim, identified as Hartsough, the Sheriff’s Office reported the victim called 911 from Lusk Lock Road, south of Middle Beaver Road.

The victim allegedly gave a statement about being forced into the back of the truck and finding an axe in the back during the drive and unsuccessfully using it to fight off the defendant at the scene and trying to wrestle a pistol away from him.