A Colorado man who is serving a nearly 11-year sentence for kidnapping a newlywed Kansas couple, stealing a vehicle and fleeing from authorities in 2009, is now trying to sue that couple for breach of contract.
In his lawsuit, 25-year-old Jessie Dimmick of Aurora, contends that after breaking into Jared and Lindsay Rowley's Topeka-area home while fleeing police, he and the couple reached a legally binding, oral contract that they would hide him for an unspecified amount of money. Dimmick, who is representing himself, is seeking $235,000.
"As a result of the plaintiffs breech (sic) of contract, I, the defendant suffered a gunshot to my back, which almost killed me. The hospital bills alone are in excess of $160,000, which I have no way to pay," Dimmick wrote in his civil suit filed last month in Shawnee County District Court.
In Sept. 2009, Dimmick was leading authorities in a chase that ended with Dimmick crashing a stolen vehicle in the Rowleys' yard.
He was wanted for questioning about the murder of Colorado man Michael Curtis, who had been found beaten to death in a motel earlier that month.
The Rowleys said that Dimmick held them at knifepoint, and a neighbor told The Topeka Capital-Journal that the young couple were able to gain their kidnapper's trust "by eating Cheetos and drinking Dr. Pepper with him while watching the movie 'Patch Adams.'"
The couple was able to escape unharmed after Dimmick fell asleep only to be awakened by police. While being ordered to lie face down, a Topeka officer's rifle accidentally discharged and shot Dimmick in the back.
According to a report by The Topeka Capital-Journal, Dimmick's breach of contract suit was filed in response to a suit filed by the Rowleys seeking $75,000 for home intrusion and causing emotional duress.
The couple is asking the judge to dismiss the suit. Robert E. Keeshan, an attorney for the Rowleys, denies there was a contract and says that even if there had been, it wouldn't be legally binding because their consent would have been given under duress, there was no specified price, and hiding a fugitive is illegal.
Dimmick is currently being held in the Adams County Detention Center in Brighton on a murder charge in connection with the 2009 killing of Michael Curtis. A pretrial hearing date is set for Dec. 6 and no plea has been entered in the case.