Carlsbad man gets prison term in a kidnapping, firearms case

A Carlsbad man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on kidnapping and firearms charges in New Mexico.

Prosecutors say 43-year-old Richard Fierro was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Las Cruces.

Fierro was arrested in November 2016 on a criminal complaint charging him with violating firearms laws in Carlsbad.

According to the complaint, Fierro forced two children into his vehicle at gunpoint, crashed the vehicle and attempted to flee the scene before being taken into custody.

Carlsbad police say a subsequent search of Fierro’s vehicle turned up a firearm, ammunition and marijuana.

Fierro was indicted in February 2017 for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He pleaded guilty to charges in the indictment last October.