A convicted felon pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping and other charges this week, admitting he forced a woman into his vehicle at gunpoint in Cullman County last year, prosecutors said Friday.

Jeffrey Barton, 51, of Guin, pleaded guilty to charges of felon in possession of a firearm and kidnapping before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Haikala in Birmingham, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

In June 2022, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man reporting that a suspect, later identified as Barton, had been at his home and forced his wife into a vehicle at gunpoint, prosecutors said, citing the plea agreement in the case.

A sheriff’s deputy saw the vehicle the woman’s husband described leaving the driveway of the victim’s home. When the woman in the vehicle saw the deputy’s patrol car, she jumped out of the driver’s side door and started running toward the deputy.

The deputy saw Barton in the back seat of the vehicle, prosecutors said.

Barton then got out of the vehicle with his hands above his head.

A Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol was found on the ground next to the driver’s door, prosecutors said.

Barton faces up to 10 years in prison on the weapons charge and life in prison on the kidnapping charge.