A rising junior basketball player at the University of Alabama was arrested on Tuesday on charges tied to an April kidnapping of a 6-year-old girl from Mississippi.
Devonta Pollard has been charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, The Tuscaloosa News reported. He’s one of six people arrested in the case. Among the other suspects who have been detained: Mr. Pollard’s mother, Jesse Mae Pollard.
Police suspect the mother as being the mastermind, The Associated Press reported. She was in a land dispute with a cousin and wanted to use the girl as a bargaining chip to get back her property, court documents state, the AP reported.
The 6-year-old was taken from her East Kemper Elementary School about noon on April 30 and went missing for a day. She was found in Enterprise, Miss., unharmed, and is reportedly doing well, AP reported.
Details are still sketchy, but investigators say they’ve found evidence in Mr. Pollard’s car — a hotel receipt and room key — tying him to the crime, AP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.