Man considering plea deal in Utah County kidnapping

PROVO — A man who police say kidnapped a woman over a botched drug deal has pleaded not guilty but asked for time to consider a potential resolution.

Sifa Pulu, 25, pleaded not guilty Thursday in 4th District Court to aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and his attorney Richard Gale asked for a few weeks to consider something presented by prosecutors.

"I need to bring him in, talk to him more in-depth about all the implications of that resolution," Gale said.

Pulu was arrested Aug. 3 after a woman told police she had been pulled from her house the previous night by two men who were angry about the quality of drugs she had sold them, according to the affidavit.

The woman said the men, identified as Pulu and Sione Afu, held a gun to her head and threatened her for hours before she was able to escape by jumping out of their moving car.

Witnesses drove her to catch up with a nearby Provo police officer who took her to the hospital and then interviewed her.

A warrant is still outstanding for Afu, who has failed to appear in court.

Pulu will be in court again Dec. 18 for a resolution or to set a trial date.

— Sara Israelsen-Hartley