New Kensington man convicted of kidnapping, robbery

A Westmoreland County jury on Wednesday convicted of a New Kensington man of holding an Ohio woman captive at his home following their third in-person date nearly three years ago.

Following about two hours of deliberations, the jury found Steven Daniel Best Jr., 41, guilty of felony counts of kidnapping and robbery.

The verdict came in connection with an incident on Dec. 18, 2022 in which his accuser claimed she was held against her will for hours when she attempted to return to her eastern Ohio home following an overnight visit.

The jury acquitted Best of one misdemeanor charge of simple assault.

Best, who stands 6 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 400 pounds, was surrounded by as many as 10 deputy sheriffs as he was escorted out of the courtroom without incident after the verdict was announced. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears ordered Best be held in jail pending a sentencing hearing that will be conducted in about three months.

Best has been in jail without bond since June. He was previously free on an unsecured $50,000 bond that was revoked after he failed to appear for a court hearing earlier this year.

The prosecution said Best used his large size to intimidate his victim when she attempted to leave his home.

Angela Gregory, 42, of Hubbard, Ohio, was the lone witness to testify during the two-day trial. Gregory, a single mother of three children, told jurors the relationship started off with promise during on-line conversations and two in-person meetings in early December.

She testified that when she attempted to return home after an overnight visit on Dec. 18, Best became angered and despondent.

She testified Best blocked the doors to prevent her from leaving, shut off the lights, closed the blinds and held her captive in the basement as he used his large body to keep her from an escaping. During the confinement, Gregory said Best forcibly took her cellphone after she threatened to call police. She was only able to escape after she spent several hours confessing love and promising to continue the relationship.

“Three hours is how long the defendant held her in the basement and terrorized her,” Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker said in her closing argument to the jury. “He completely terrorized her. I implore you to believe Angela Gregory and implore you to hold the defendant responsible for his actions.”

Ranker said no additional witnesses were available or needed for the jury to convict Best.

The prosecution presented dozens of video and text messages in which Gregory testified that Best sent to her in the days that followed the incident. Those messages included multiple apologies, pleas for her to continue the relationship and apparent threats to her safety, her family and her job.

Defense attorney Michael Garofalo questioned the authenticity of those messages and argued to jurors that Gregory’s story was not believable. He contended the evidence did not support kidnapping and robbery charges.

“The commonwealth made a case for stalking and harassment, but my client is not charged with stalking and harassment. Don’t fall for the tugs on your heartstrings. We’re supposed to take (her) word that those messages are from Mr. Best but they can’t prove it was from him,” Garofalo said.