Guilty Plea in Brazen Germantown Kidnapping

The man who grabbed Carlesha Freeland-Gaither off a Germantown street won’t be getting out anytime soon.

Delvin Barnes, 37, pleaded guilty today to kidnapping Freeland-Gaither on November 4, 2014. His jury trial was scheduled to start next week; Barnes faces 35 years in prison.

Barnes grabbed Freeland-Gaither of the 100 block of W. Coulter Street. A surveillance camera captured her struggling with the kidnapper, who pulled her into a van. Federal prosecutors said she hit Barnes with a hammer once he got her into the car, but Barnes threatened to kill her if she continued to fight.

He drove to Maryland, where police caught up with him after three days. Freeland-Gaither identified Barnes as the culprit.

In court today, Barnes said he hoped to get money from the woman he kidnapped. He said he wished to travel to Virginia and needed money. He apparently chose his victim at random.

Barnes was also accused of kidnapping and raping a teen in Virginia, but won’t be prosecuted on those charges.

Barnes will be sentenced next year.

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