Two women accused of being involved in a hit-and-run incident that led to a kidnapping episode in Emporia have pleaded not guilty to the charges lodged against them.
Mariah Lopez and Analysa Tamez waived their preliminary hearings Wednesday.
Lopez and Tamez were charged after an incident Aug. 2 at Ninth and East. Emporia Police officers have said both were in an SUV that hit a cyclist. Investigators say they then put the cyclist in the SUV and drove her around for around 30 minutes before releasing her.
Lopez has been charged with single counts of kidnapping, criminal restraint, witness or victim intimidation and other charges. Tamez has been charged with single counts of kidnapping, aggravated battery, witness or victim intimidation, criminal restraint, failure to stop at an accident resulting in great bodily harm and other charges.
A pretrial hearing is next for both defendants. The hearing is at 2 pm Oct. 19.
