BEAUMONT, Texas — A 79-year-old man from Orange has been charged in federal court with kidnapping a Beaumont attorney who defended him on kidnapping charges 40 years ago.
Putnam Darwin Richardson, 79, of Orange, kidnapped Beaumont attorney Mel Shelander, 72, on Monday morning, according to a statement from his family.
By Wednesday afternoon Shelander was safe at home his family said.
Shelander has worked as an attorney in Beaumont for more than 35 years.
Richardson was previously convicted of kidnaping two people at gunpoint in Beaumont in 1984. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison for that crime and has been on parole since October 2017, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice records.
During his 1984 trial in state court, Shelander was one of his defense attorneys, court documents show.
Richardson was booked in to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on Wednesday night after being arrested by the U.S. Marshal's Service on a felony kidnapping charge. The charge is a third degree felony.
He was arraigned in U.S. Federal District Court Thursday afternoon in Beaumont on the kidnapping charge according to court documents.
A court appointed attorney is being assigned to defend Richardson, who has a preliminary hearing on Monday.
In their statement Shelander's family praised the work of the FBI, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and police in Beaumont and Orange for their efforts in rescuing him Monday afternoon.
"Their quick response, dedication, and investigative expertise brought Mel home safely," the statement read. "We cannot thank them enough for the professionalism and compassion they displayed over the past few days."
The family also thanked their family, friends and community for their support and asked for privacy as their family recovers.
Federal court documents obtained by 12News note that the crime happened in Orange County but did not disclose other details. Documents with more details of the crime are currently sealed.
The kidnapping involved a "crime of violence" with a weapon and the charge carries a potential maximum life sentence or a death sentence, according to motion a for a detention hearing in the case.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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