Man admits kidnapping daughter, taking her to West Bank

ST. LOUIS -- A suburban St. Louis man pleaded guilty Tuesday to abducting his daughter and taking her to the Middle East during a custody dispute.

Walid Yousef Badra, 44, of Florissant was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this year. He pleaded guilty to international parental kidnapping.

A second count of the indictment, dropped as part of the plea agreement, accused Badra of demanding ransom from his ex-wife in exchange for his daughter. Authorities originally said Badra sought the ransom to help pay for his marriage to another woman.

Badra could face up to three years in prison when sentenced Oct. 10.

Badra's daughter, whose name and age were not given, was returned to his wife days after Badra was arrested March 7.

U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender said Badra's wife sued for divorce in May, three months before she was granted sole custody of the couple's three children, all younger than 16 years. In October, Badra kidnapped the youngest daughter and took her to the West Bank.