Man Accused of Kidnapping 8-year-old in Fort Worth Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charge

The man accused of snatching an 8-year-old girl who was walking with her mother in Fort Worth last month pleaded not guilty to a federal kidnapping charge Monday and asked that his court-appointed attorney be replaced.Michael Webb, 51, had previously filed documents indicating that he planned to plead guilty, but did not enter a plea at a hearing last week. Prosecutors then presented the case to a grand jury, which indicted Webb.Webb also told a judge Monday morning that he wanted his public defender replaced, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported.His trial is set for July 29.Authorities started searching for the girl the evening of May 18, when her mother said that a man drove up and grabbed her as they were walking in the Ryan Place neighborhood. An Amber Alert was issued, but it was not delivered to radio stations because of a problem with a fax machine, Fort Worth police said. Forest Hill police received a tip and searched Webb's hotel room early the next morning, but left after they did not find the girl. Last week, Forest Hill police terminated Sgt. Richardson Wolfe over his response in the case.Webb has been in federal custody since his arrest. If convicted in federal court, Webb faces 10 years to life in prison.Webb also faces one charge of kidnapping and six counts of sexual assault of a child in Tarrant County.  Continue reading...