A convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison in the 2022 kidnapping of a woman in Cullman County.

U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced 52-year-old Jeffery Barton, of Guin, to more than 19 years in prison. The announcement was made Tuesday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

Barton earlier this year pleaded guilty to kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office in June 2022 received a call from a man saying that another man – later identified as Barton – had come into the couples’ home and held him and his wife at gunpoint.

Barton then forced the woman into a vehicle, also at gunpoint.

A sheriff’s deputy saw the vehicle leaving the driveway of the victim’s home. When the victim saw the deputy’s patrol car, she jumped out of the driver’s side door and ran to the deputy.

Barton got out of the back seat with his hands above his head and was taken into custody.

A search of the vehicle turned up a Smith & Wesson 9 mm. He admitted to kidnapping the woman.

Barton had previously been convicted of 13 felony offenses, including rape, theft, and receiving stolen property.

The case was investigated by ATF and the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted.