Alexandria Man Gets 12 Years In Prison For MD Kidnapping Scheme

GREENBELT, MD — An Alexandria man was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison for a kidnapping and witness tampering scheme in Maryland.

The case against Henry Lee Kenner II, age 43, of Alexandria stems from a June 2019 kidnapping incident. According to the plea agreement, Kenner drove from Virginia to the victim's home in Prince Frederick in Calvert County, Maryland and asked to speak with the victim. An argument ensued, and Kenner struck the victim with his fist and cut her hand with a knife. He then removed the victim from her home without her consent, according to the plea agreement.

Kenner continued to assault the victim on the way to his car and put her in the passenger seat. A witness said Kenner threatened to kill the victim if she tried to open the passenger door while he was heading to the driver's side.

The plea agreement said Kenner continued to assault and yell at the victim while driving from Calvert County through Charles and Prince George’s Counties. At one point, a state trooper called Kenner and asked that he return with the victim to her home. Kenner indicated that he would do so but instead continued driving into Virginia. Kenner then pulled over and disposed of the knife and dropped the victim off at a hospital. He ultimately turned himself in to Maryland State Police. The victim was treated for her injuries.

Kenner was charged with kidnapping in October 2019. Two months later, while in federal custody awaiting trial, Kenner attempted to convince an individual to arrange for the victim to be killed so she would be unable to testify against him. Kenner promised money in exchange and provided the victim's personal identifying information. However, the individual did not executive the plan, and no money was exchanged.

The sentence was announced by Robert K. Hur, United States attorney for the District of Maryland; Jennifer C. Boone, special agent in charge of the FBI, Baltimore Field Office; and Col. Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.