Waupun Man Sentenced For Attempted Kidnapping

The 24-year-old Waupun man who attacked a woman in Waupun last Thanksgiving morning has been sentenced to 7 years and 9 months in prison and 7 ½ years of extended supervision. Juan Antonio Arriaga, a transient worker, was sentenced Tuesday on charges of attempted kidnapping, felony intimidation of a victim, false imprisonment, battery and disorderly conduct. Last November Officer Robert Williams spotted Arriaga about 12:30 that morning and began monitoring him. District Attorney Eric Toney says it was great police work because the officer saw something that didn’t look right and stuck with it. Officer Williams lost sight of Arriaga momentarily, but when he saw him again Arriaga was stalking the victim. The 22-year-old woman had left a bar headed for her boyfriend’s when Arriaga wrapped his arm around her, blocked her vision, and struck her in the head. He began guiding her toward his residence, which was about a block away. The victim fell to the ground and yanked her purse away from Arriaga. She then spotted Williams squad car and ran towards it. Toney says if Williams hadn’t been close enough what happened could have been quite frightening. She didn’t speak Spanish and Arriaga didn’t speak English. Arriaga later told police he was lonely and had been drinking. A jury found Arriaga guilty of the charges during a trial in July.