Fake kidnappers face judge Thursday

Sequim, Wash. — The two Port Angeles cousins who staged a fake kidnapping in a Sequim Park said Thursday they never expected to be facing charges. Jason and Jesse Holden are both charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct for the videotaped hoax, which terrified parents at Carrie Blake Park in Sequim on April 13.

Jason Holden, who wore a mask, grabbed a boy, who later turned out to be a younger relative. His mother, Shellie Baskins, is also charged. Baskins and the cousins appeared at the Clallam County Courthouse Thursday afternoon.

“We kind of wanted to do something different and we kind of went a little overboard with it,” Jason Holden said.

“Do you regret doing it?” KIRO 7 asked.

“Yeah, I do,” he said. “I mainly just regretted scaring the kids.”

The Holdens said the video had good intentions: to raise awareness about child abductions.

“We didn't think we were committing a crime,” he said.

Jesse and Jason Holden said they’ve been making videos with Jason’s twin brother, Jeremy, since they were young. Their YouTube channel shows outrageous videos, apparently done for humor and shock value, not education. One prank shows Jason Holden trying to hire someone to be a hit man. Another video shows Jeremy Holden putting a note on a man’s Lamborghini, pretending someone hit it.

“Will you continue to post videos?” KIRO 7 asked.

“Yes,” Jesse Holden said. “Not videos like that [kidnapping video], but yeah, we’re not going to stop.”

The contracted attorney for the city of Sequim, Christopher Shea, said specific city laws ban frightening people on purpose in public places. Shea said it doesn’t matter if the Holdens knew the law or not.

“From what we could see, the intent was there,” he said, “and we intend to prove it.”

The maximum for this charge under state law is 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The Holdens are due back in court June 19.

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