A convicted Alabama felon was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for 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.

U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Jeffrey Barton, 51, of Guin, Alabama, to 235 months in prison for kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Barton pleaded guilty to the charges in August.

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

Barton then forced his wife into a vehicle at gunpoint.

A CCSO deputy saw the vehicle leaving the driveway of the victim’s home.

When the victim in the vehicle saw the CCSO deputy’s patrol car, she jumped out of the driver’s door of the vehicle 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 9 mm pistol on the ground next to the driver’s door.

Barton admitted to kidnapping the victim at gunpoint. Barton had previously been convicted of 13 felony offenses, including rape, theft and receiving stolen property.