An Alabama convicted felon pleaded guilty this week to kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

Jeffrey Barton, 51, of Guinn, Alabama, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala to felon in possession of a firearm and kidnapping.

According to the plea agreement, in June 2022, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received a call from a man reporting that an individual, later identified as Barton, had been at his residence and forced his wife into a vehicle at gunpoint.

A CCSO Deputy saw the vehicle the victim’s husband described leaving the driveway of the victim’s residence. When the female victim in the vehicle saw the CCSO deputy’s patrol car, she jumped out of the driver’s door and began running toward the deputy. The deputy saw Barton in the back seat.

Barton got out of the vehicle with his hands above his head. Officers searched the vehicle and found a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol on the ground next to the driver’s door.

The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison. The maximum penalty for kidnapping is life in prison.