Trial begins for Lingerie Night kidnapping attempt

APPLETON – While Dennis L. Mitchell insists he never intended to kidnap an Eager Beaver bartender in July, his former fellow jail inmate told a different story Tuesday.

Mitchell, 46, of Appleton, is charged with attempted kidnapping and prostitution stemming from two separate incidents in 2014. His trial began Tuesday with testimony from both alleged victims, the former inmate and the bar owner.

“You’ve heard a lot of bad things about Mr. Mitchell,” defense attorney Amy Menzel said in her opening statement. “But he’s not the monster the state wants you to believe he is. He did not do what the state alleged, mostly because he didn’t have to.”

In the first incident, prosecutors said Mitchell approached a woman in May and offered to pay her for sex. When she refused, they said he offered larger increments of payment before finally driving away.

Menzel said while Mitchell did approach both women, he never offered to pay for sex or put a bag over the bartender’s head and choked her, as prosecutors allege.

“It’s not illegal to ask someone to go out and have a good time or even have sex,” Menzel said. “It’s only illegal if something of value is offered.”

But Chad Vandenberg said Mitchell admitted to the kidnapping attempt while they were both housed in the Outagamie County jail. Vandenberg, who said he was not offered any incentive for his testimony, said Mitchell told him he’d waited for the bartender in the parking lot because he was attracted to her.

Vandenberg said Mitchell also admitted to trying to put the bag over the woman’s head and to strangling her, which was how the bartender described the event when she testified Tuesday afternoon.

The woman said Mitchell came to Eager Beaver Bar for the weekly Lingerie Night, during which scantily clad bartenders would serve drinks to draw in additional business. Post-Crescent Media does not typically identify victims of sensitive crimes and is not naming either woman.

RELATED:Appleton bar ends ‘Lingerie Night’ after kidnap attempt

The bartender said Mitchell had asked her out on previous nights, but she turned him down. He frequented the bar, at 1400 W. 2nd St., often enough that she and a second bartender knew which drink he ordered, and the alleged victim said she was able to recognize him as he lunged for her July 10.

“That man attacked me,” she said tearfully. “He took his hand and grabbed my neck and said, ‘Shh, shh,” and put a bag over my head.”

The woman said she fought back and ripped the bag off her head, screaming loudly enough to attract the attention of neighbors sitting on a porch. When the witnesses approached, she said Mitchell fled.

Police found the grocery bag after speaking with the woman and found a Walmart receipt inside. When they showed the woman the surveillance footage from the store, she told them she was “100 percent sure” it was Mitchell and that he was the one who had attacked her.

Police also took a DNA sample from the woman’s neck, and while it was not a match for Mitchell, there was DNA from another man, Menzel said. Menzel also said Mitchell did not have curly hair, contrary to the woman’s initial statement to police.

The trial should conclude Wednesday, and Mitchell is expected to testify in his own defense.

EARLIER:Man charged with attempted kidnapping of bartender

— Ariel Cheung: 920-993-1000, ext. 430, or acheung@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @arielfab

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Sexy Lingerie Sets to Keep Things Hot This Winter

XXXtian Lingerie; Image: Dita Von Teese

Even a clotheshorse would agree that what’s on the outside is nothing compared to what’s underneath. Properly fitting intimates can affect the drape of clothes, and panty lines can make or break a pair of perfectly tailored trousers. That’s partially why the lingerie industry has boomed in the past decade, and established its own Fashion Week, which launched in February 2013.

According to IBISWorld’s research from July 2014, the U.S. market for intimates is topping at $13 billion annually, and anyone with a remotely famous name wants a piece of the pie. Last year, Halle Berry launched a French-inspired lingerie line with Target, Heidi Klum linked up with Bendon and Britney Spears debuted her collaboration with Change Lingerie during Spring 2015 Fashion Week in September. They joined a growing list of celebrities and models who are cashing in on lingerie lines, from Elle Macpherson and Jessica Simpson to Gisele Bündchen, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Bar Refaeli and the Kardashians.

So, what exactly does that mean for us? More variety. For Fall 2014, underpinnings ran the gamut from elegant lace sets in classic color schemes like champagne and black to provocative retro sets with high waists and ample push-ups. With so many options, there’s no excuse to hang on to that nude T-shirt bra from 2009. New year, new you.

Click on the slideshow below for the prettiest lingerie sets guaranteed to bolster your wardrobe and heat up your winter.

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Agent Provocateur

Megan Set, $170 for bra, $150 for bottoms at Net-a-Porter

Jenna Leigh

Biscayne Set, $85 for bra, $43 for bottoms at Jenna Leigh

Dita Von Teese

Savoir Faire Full Figure Set (up to a 44E cup), $68.22 for bra, $28.43 for bottoms at ASOS

Freya

Siren Set (up to a 38G cup), $57 for bra, $29 for bottoms, $40 for suspenders at figleaves.com

La Perla

Pizzo Set, $390 for bra, $450 for bottoms at Net-a-Porter

Damaris

Jaguar Set, $178.70 for bra, $131.58 for bottoms at Damaris

Elomi

Tessa Set (up to a 44G cup), $69 for bra, $32 for bottoms at HerRoom

Myla London

Isabella Set in Midnight/Lime, $71 for bra, $45 for bottoms at Myla

Kiki de Montparnasse

Cage Set, $395 for bra, $325 for bottoms at Kiki de Montparnasse

Chantelle

Mouvance Set, $82 for bra, $45 for bottoms at Anthropologie

Gossard

Temptation Set, $70 for plunge bra, $45 for bottoms, $99 for suspenders at Gossard

Chantelle

Rive Gauche Set (up to a 44H cup), $88 for bra, $30 for bottoms at Bare Necessities 

Le Mystère

Isabella Set, $86 for bra, $38 for bottoms at Le Mystère

Elle Macpherson Intimates

Soie Set, $95 for bra, $65 for bottoms at Anthropologie

L’Agent by Agent Provocateur

Clementina Set, $50.25 for bra, $38.86 for garter belt at Nordstrom

I.D. Sarrieri

Moulded Push-Up Bustier and Thong, $583 for bustier, $91 for bottoms at I.D. Sarrieri

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