New London man pleads to lowered kidnapping charge

WILLMAR -- Brandon Thomas Sharp, 34, of New London pleaded guilty Monday to an amended kidnapping charge and will receive a stay of execution on his 42-month prison sentence for taking a New London woman into Stearns County against her will.

As part of a plea agreement in Kandiyohi County District Court, two other felony charges for terroristic threats and false imprisonment we-re dismissed.

Two misdemeanor charges for theft and reckless dr-iving were also dismissed.

He will be sentenced Jan. 26.

The charges were filed after a Kandiyohi County sheriff's deputy was dispatched Oct. 4 to Georgeville in Stearns County to investigate a kidnapping report.

A woman met the deputy and informed him that she and Sharp had a relationship and had broken up. She said he refused to accept the breakup and came to her New London home earlier that morning to talk. She said she later left for work and returned to find Sharp at her door intoxicated. He returned again and allegedly took her into his vehicle and drove away.

She said she couldn't escape because he kept hold of her and said that he had "just the spot for her" and that no one would ever find her. As the vehicle crossed into Stearns County, the woman recognized the home of Sharp's sister and saw her outside. She managed to escape Sharp's grip and fell out the door of the vehicle. The vehicle then entered a ditch.

Sharp's sister then drove the woman to a residence to call law enforcement.