Philadelphia police

Virginia Prosecutors Stop Pursuit of Charges Against Philly Kidnapping Suspect Delvin Barnes

In a procedural move, a Virginia prosecutor drops charges against Philly abduction suspect awaiting a federal kidnapping trial

The former convict accused of snatching a woman off a Philadelphia street will not face charges in another kidnapping case in Virginia — for now.

Delvin Barnes — who remained behind bars in federal prison in Philadelphia in connection to the abduction of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither off a Germantown street — no longer faces charges in Charles City County, Virginia, NBC affiliate WWBT confirmed Wednesday.

Charles City County Sheriff's Capt. Jayson Crawley said Wednesday that prosecutor Robert Tyler plans to ask a grand jury to indict Delvin Barnes on state charges after the federal prosecution is completed. Tyler did not immediately respond to an email message from the AP.

Barnes, 37, was accused of kidnapping, raping and assaulting a 16-year-old Richmond girl in October — the girl got away after he allegedly doused her in bleach and gasoline and began digging her grave.

Virginia prosecutors nolle prossed the charges from that case as a procedural move. They can refile the charges in the future, according to WWBT.

Barnes pleaded not guilty in Philadelphia federal court last month for the Nov. 2 kidnapping of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither.

The caught-on-video attack showed the suspect grabbing the 22-year-old nursing assistant off a Germantown street and throwing her into a car. Investigators eventually tracked down Barnes in Maryland, where he was arrested and the victim was found.

The suspect, whom authorities have described as a "vicious predator" with a criminal history, was charged federally a day after his arrest. Barnes was convicted in 2006 of a handful of charges after he was accused of holding his estranged wife captive and raping her in her Philadelphia home, court documents show.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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