BAY MINETTE – A 47-year-old truck driver pleaded guilty this week 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 in the Dec. 28, 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 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.”

On Monday 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 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.