Armed man allegedly abducted computer technician, planned to hold him captive until computer got fixed

A computer being repaired
(Image credit: iStock)

As tempting as it might be, it is in fact illegal to trap a computer technician inside your home and refuse to allow him to leave until your computer gets fixed. The law, however, did not deter one Arlington, Virginia man who was arrested and charged with abduction on Monday after allegedly attempting to keep a computer technician in his home "until his computer was fixed." Joseph Nestor Mondello, 50, "allegedly had a gun in his possession," according to police, and threatened to kill the technician if his computer problems weren't resolved.

The Washington Post reports that it was not immediately clear what the computer problem was.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.