Teen gets 5 years in prison for abduction, death threats

A Mid-Missouri teen was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday after kidnapping and threatening to kill a 15 year-old girl in early 2013.

Robert Bethel, 19, was already convicted of the crimes in April. Authorities say Bethel forced the girl into a truck in January 2013 near West Seventh and North Walker streets in Montgomery City. The incident also put several schools on lockdown.

According to court documents, Bethel repeatedly threatened to kill the girl. At some point in the night, the girl tried to get the gun from Bethel. It discharged a bullet into the dashboard of the truck.

During Bethel’s trial, his parents testified he was suffering from depression and having suicidal thoughts.

Bethel also took the stand and said, “the gun was intended for me, not her.”