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Man sentenced to prison for grabbing 3-year-old in store

Bentiu Wal
Bentiu Wal

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 34-year-old Lincoln has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for trying to kidnap a 3-year-old girl from a grocery store last year.

Bentiu Wal was sentenced Thursday to 20 to 30 years. Police say store surveillance video showed he grabbed the girl from behind near the exit of the store and tried to leave with her. The child’s mother intervened and hit Wal until he let go of the girl and left the store.

Wal’s attorney said he was intoxicated at the time and doesn’t remember the incident.

Wal will get credit for a little more than a year he spent in jail awaiting trial.

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