No charges filed against man accused of trying to kidnap woman

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Williams Cesery III

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The State Attorney's Office has declined to file charges against a 25-year-old Jacksonville man accused of trying to get a 21-year-old woman to smoke marijuana and then trying to force her into his SUV.

Lawyers contended that William Ross Cesery III has "significant medical issues" resulting from a boating accident in 2007.

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According to St. Augustine police, Shanna Kuenzi was walking on a sidewalk along Orange Street about noon Wednesday when a Chevrolet SUV pulled up beside her.

"I was walking down by the city gates toward U.S. 1. A guy started following me, and he started asking me if I needed a ride," Kuenzi said. "For five minutes, he kept following me and asking me if I needed a ride. And I told him that I didn't."

Cesery also offered Kuenzi lunch and marijuana and told her that she was beautiful, all while asking her if she needed a ride, according to the police report.

After telling the man "no" countless times, Kuenzi said he wouldn't take no for an answer.

"He got tired of me saying no and he pulled out in front of me into some random guy's driveway and was like, he got out of his car, and was like, 'You're beautiful' and started grabbing me. And when he grabbed me, he pulled me into his car like he was going to take me forcefully," Kuenzi said.

Kuenzi said she was able to fight him off and the man then sped away. She immediately called police.

"I wrote a report and that's when I got in the vehicle and I was on my way back to the police station at this time and the police officer asked me, 'Just out of curiosity, why, is it this vehicle?'' And I said, 'That's the guy. That's the exact vehicle,'" Kuenzi said. "And he got out of his car with guns and was like, 'Get on the ground. Get on the ground.'"

The judge ordered Cesery not to have any contact with Kuenzi.

Cesery has been arrested six times since 2007. In 2011, he was arrested on multiple charges, including possession of drugs and resisting an officer. He faced two criminal traffic citations for speeding and reckless driving this year and he is on probation for battery. 

In 2012, police said, Cesery was involved in a physical fight during the Florida-Georgia football game and that he was knocked unconscious.


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