Jurors convict prisoner accused in kidnapping of prosecutor's dad
Federal jurors in Raleigh, North Carolina, have convicted a prisoner accused of trying to orchestrate the kidnapping of a county prosecutor that resulted in kidnappers seizing the prosecutor’s father instead.
Kelvin Melton, 51, was convicted Tuesday of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted kidnapping and a firearms charge, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. A reputed gang leader, Melton was accused of directing gang members from his prison cell to carry out the kidnapping.
Melton had denied any part in the “stupid” scheme in testimony Friday. Defense lawyers had argued that prosecution witnesses benefited by telling prosecutors what they wanted to hear.
Prosecutors say Melton had sought the kidnapping of Wake County assistant district attorney Colleen Janssen, who had obtained a conviction that sent Melton to prison for life as a habitual offender. The kidnappers instead seized Janssen’s father, Frank Janssen, from his Wake Forest home in April 2014, holding him for five days until he was rescued by the FBI.
The federal conviction carries a potential life sentence.
