Man Who Tried To Kidnap Wife, Pulled Shotgun On Mother-in-law Pleads Guilty

December 21, 2011

A 47-year-old truck driver from Atmore pleaded guilty this week in Baldwin County to attempting to kidnap his estranged wife — who was pregnant with another man’s child, struggling with the wife’s new boyfriend over a sawed-off shotgun, and a string of other offenses a December 2010 incident.

“Troy Barton of Atmore went to his mother-in-law’s house in Baldwin County with the intent to kidnap his estranged wife, Tammy Barton,” said Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney Megan Doggett, who prosecuted the case. “He brought with him a short-barrel shotgun and a duffle bag filled with pillowcases, zip ties, duct tape and various medications, intending to tie up the mother-in-law and her husband and take his wife by force if she was unwilling to come with him.”

Barton’s wife was not at the Bay Minette home of her mother, Linda Allen, but his wife’s new boyfriend, Leroy Taggert, was, Doggett said. “They struggled to gain control of the shotgun and it discharged. The mother called 911 and he was arrested there.”

In Baldwin County Circuit Court, Barton entered a blind plea, meaning there was no pre-determined agreement with prosecutors on a sentence, to first degree burglary, second degree attempted kidnapping, possession of a short-barrel shotgun, unlawful imprisonment and reckless endangerment.

Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon praised Sgt. Daniel Steelman and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case and testimony that led to concurrent sentences for Barton of 20 years (split to serve five) on the burglary, 10 years (split to serve three) on the attempted kidnapping, and one year each on the other charges.

According to Escambia County (Fla.) court records, Barton is a former resident of Molino.

Comments

5 Responses to “Man Who Tried To Kidnap Wife, Pulled Shotgun On Mother-in-law Pleads Guilty”

  1. Bert on December 22nd, 2011 7:34 am

    Now would be a good time for 3 or 4 people in this story to look at themselves in the mirror and say, “What am I doing with my life?”

  2. Old Friend on December 21st, 2011 11:49 am

    I don’t care how far someone is pushed, whether emotionally or mentally, there is no excuse for this kind of behavior and I’m still trying to figure out how anyone can think that he was only intending to kidnap Tammy. I mean, seriously, folks…..since when does all that add up to a happy ending? He was intending for there to be a death and I really don’t think it was his own.

  3. Char on December 21st, 2011 8:56 am

    What a MESS, sounds like a Soap Opera….thats why I don’t watch them.

  4. Gatorgirl on December 21st, 2011 8:40 am

    I knew him in high school and from Molino. He always had such a low key personality. This is so sad to see, thank God no one was killed. Just goes to show what happens when someone is emotionally pushed to the edge and flips out……… you never know what is going on in someones mind. God bless his family

  5. rmd on December 21st, 2011 3:40 am

    see what happens when you have a broken heart over someone.god bless his family to have to go through this.they are good christian people and i know this is killing them to see their son do this.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News