Taxi driver jailed for imprisonment

A Winchester taxi driver is facing unlawful imprisonment charges after allegedly giving a passenger a threatening note and not letting her get out of the vehicle.

Johnny Wayne Barnett, 43, of 118 Finley Road, was arrested Sunday afternoon about 90 minutes after the alleged incident occurred.

According to court and police documents, Barnett is a driver for Nutter Taxi in Winchester. The victim, a woman, called Winchester Police after she got out of the vehicle.

She told police Barnett handed her a note that said “If you panic or scream I’m gonna hurt you.” She also said Barnett tried to lock the doors and force her to stay in the vehicle.

Barnett was arraigned in Clark District Court Monday morning. Because the charge is a felony, an automatic not guilty plea was entered and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 13.

Barnett remains in the Clark County Detention Center.

SportsPlus