A former policeman was convicted Tuesday after a January incident that led to an Amber Alert and eventual standoff in Georgia.
After a six day trial, former Department of Social Services police and probation officer David Allen Dietz was convicted of kidnapping, carjacking, discharging a firearm in connection with a violent crime and transportation of a stolen motor vehicle.
Dietz, 25, of Lexington, abducted his former girlfriend and their infant son on January 3 at their home in West Columbia, eventually leading to a statewide Amber Alert. According to officials, Dietz had a rocky relationship with his ex-girlfriend and had previously pointed a firearm and threatened to kill members of her family leading up to the incident.
According to US Attorney Walt Wilkins, evidence presented at the trial showed that Dietz met a 17-year old girl in days prior to the kidnapping and abducted her, sexually assaulted her and forced her to assist in the abduction of his former girlfriend and son. Wilkins said further evidence presented, showed that on January 3, Dietz dressed as a police officer and ambushed his ex-girlfriend and her family as they returned from church.
During that incident, Dietz threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend's family members and took a vehicle belonging to a family member and abducted her and their 17 month old child. Dietz fired several shots into a vehicle where several family members occupied while leaving and leading to a statewide search.
Officers located the stolen vehicle, Dietz and the victim's after he took them to Madison, Georgia and checked into a Red Roof Inn. Dietz fired several shots at officers as they approached the motel room they were staying. After a 13-hour standoff, Dietz surrendered.
He faces a maximum life sentence on the kidnapping charge and mandatory consecutive sentences of 10 years on the firearms charge. Sentencing is scheduled for December 17.
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