Opp kidnapping attempt foiled
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 2, 2010
An Opp man faces burglary and kidnapping charges after he allegedly tried to abduct a 12-year-old girl from a home inside an Opp trailer park Friday.
Opp Chief Nickey Carnley said the incident began when 42-year-old Richard Junior Wells allegedly forced his way inside the Lunsford Circle home.
“It was reported as a disturbance, but when officers arrived, it was discovered that Wells had forced entry into the mobile home, and during the burglary, attempted to abduct a 12-year-old female from the home.
“The child had to be forcibly removed from Wells during the abduction by an adult who was watching over several children at home during the abduction attempt,” he said.
Police were able to locate Wells Saturday and charge him with second-degree burglary and second-degree attempted kidnapping. He was placed in the Covington County Jail under a $400,000 bond.
Carnley said incident was not related to any custody issue.
“Wells was also a resident in the trailer park, so my guess is that he had seen (the child) around,” he said. “There is no relationship between Wells and his victim other than living in the same area.”
Carnley said Wells had neither a prior history of related incidents nor a history of mental illness.