Authorities have accused an Iowa City man of kidnapping.

Thomas Huber, 57, was charged with third-degree kidnapping and two counts of domestic abuse/assault between the days of Sept. 8 and Sept. 10.

According to the arrest affidavit, Huber was yelling at his wife about hiding his glass “meth pipe” on Sept. 8. The woman told officers, the affidavit said, three days of physical abuse from Huber occurred.

Huber broke the woman’s phone, the affidavit said, and he trapped her inside the trailer they share, sealing the back door shut and placing furniture in front of windows to prevent her escape. Over the three days, the affidavit said, Huber slept in a chair by the front door to ensure she did not leave.

On Sept. 9, the affidavit said, the victim was recovering from the previous day’s assault when Huber assaulted her again. He began beating her face, the affidavit said, and eventually began waving a wooden paddle around. He hit the victim so hard with the paddle, the affidavit said, it broke across the woman’s back.

On Sept. 10, the affidavit said, the woman could barely move because of her injuries. Huber yet again began to beat the woman’s swollen face, the affidavit said, and she begged him to stop.

Huber mocked and laughed at the woman, the affidavit said, and forcefully put ice on her face. When the woman complained about the pain, the affidavit said, Huber sat on the bag of ice, pinning her face beneath him.

The woman told officers she feared Huber would kill her, the affidavit said.

Third-degree kidnapping is a Class-C felony.

— by Kayli Reese