Man accused of Plymouth County standoff pleads guilty to violating custody order

JEFFERSON, Iowa (KCAU) — An Iowa man accused of kidnapping a child that led to a statewide Amber Alert, pursuit, and standoff has pleaded guilty to some charges.

Brandon Duong, 35, of Jefferson, Iowa pleaded guilty to violating a custodial order, a class D felony, Tuesday in Greene County District Court. The guilty plea comes as part of a plea agreement.

As part of the agreement, the charge of second-degree kidnapping – armed with a dangerous weapon, a Class B felony, was dismissed.

Duong admitted to violating a court order and “picked up” a child after custody had been transferred to the Iowa Department of Health and Human services, court documents state.

In addition to pleading guilty to violating a custodial order, Duong will also plead guilty to felony eluding and child endangerment out of Woodbury County. In the plea agreement, Duong would serve five years consecutive to charges out of Woodbury County for an indeterminate term not to exceed 12 years.

While there is a potential sentencing agreed to, the court is not bound by the plea agreement at sentencing. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

Duong is accused of picking up a child who was outside at a Greene County school playground while at recess on Jan. 30. An Amber Alert went out that afternoon and his vehicle was later spotted in Woodbury County when a pursuit ensued before crashing outside of Remsen.

Duong allegedly left the vehicle on foot with the child and a rifle and got into a standoff with law enforcement . A criminal complaint stated Duong accused him of “using [the child] as a shield and a hostage” during the standoff.

After multiple hours, Duong surrendered and was eventually taken into custody. He was booked into the Plymouth County Jail until he was transferred to Greene County.

Duong pleaded not guilty to the Greene County charges in early February. A few days later, Duong’s attorney filed a motion to determine competency . In late May, the court found that he was competent and that the case would continue.

To read previous coverage of the case, CLICK HERE .

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