Fort Payne man sentenced to 30 years for Etowah Co. kidnapping - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

Fort Payne man sentenced to 30 years for Etowah Co. kidnapping

Posted: Updated:
Billy Joe Greenleaf (Source: DeKalb County Sheriff) Billy Joe Greenleaf (Source: DeKalb County Sheriff)
ETOWAH COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -

A man convicted of kidnapping two Etowah County teenagers was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

37-year-old Billy Joe Greenleaf pleaded guilty to kidnapping two Hokes Bluff teenagers at gunpoint in September of 2010.

Investigators said Greenleaf approached the couple, who were walking home, and asked for assistance with his tire. When the two bent down to look, he pulled out a gun and forced them into his SUV. He made the 18-year-old male drive.

The couple was able to jump out of the vehicle when the SUV stopped at a stop sign. The 17-year-old female victim grabbed Greenleaf's gun when she jumped.

Greenleaf was arrested six hours later in DeKalb County.

Greenleaf changed his original not guilty plea to guilty shortly before jury selection was about to begin.

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Copyright WAFF 2012. All rights reserved.

Related stories

Updated:

Fort Payne man charged with kidnapping two teens More>>