A man accused of kidnapping his 10-year-old stepdaughter, leading to an Amber Alert and a standoff with Davenport Police, says his actions were justified.
Court records showed Kenneth Johns, 48, of Coralville, Iowa, said at a June 3, 2015 hearing that he would pursue a “defense of justification” in the case.
Johns was accused of taking Brianna Crane from a home in Solon, Iowa during the afternoon Saturday, March 7, 2015. That led to an Amber Alert, and by that evening police had learned Johns was in Davenport, Iowa. Brianna crane was dropped off to police at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, March 8, by a person that police only identified as “a third party.”
By 7 a.m., investigators and negotiators were at a duplex in the 2600 block of Farnam Street, and spent about two-and-a-half hours negotiating with Kenneth Johns. Police said they believed at that time that Johns was armed and dangerous, and they eventually used tactical methods to go into the home and take Johns into custody.
Within 24 hours, Johns was extradited to Johnson County, where he was eventually charged with second-degree kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm and carrying weapons. He also faced a parole violation charge, and he was accused of violating a no-contact order that was issued February 17.
At his March 10 hearing, video showed Johns spitting in open court and complaining that he was assaulted in jail.
Court records showed Shelly Johns, 44, pleaded guilty April 21, 2015, to charges filed April 8 of child endangerment.
Brianna was in the custody of DHS, court records showed.