Kids kidnapped, mom forced into robbery

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - It is a bizarre case of kidnapping and extortion involving a mother, a pair of kids and a man who is now jail.

Police say James McDaniel, 30, took two kids hostage and tried to force their mother to rob a bank.

The victim told police he had been living with her and her 8-year-old and 13-year-old children for about a week since he got out of prison.

Sunday McDaniel, who has an extensive criminal past, appeared in court.

Friday morning, police say McDaniel admitted to wearing a mask to conceal his identity.

Police say he first attacked the mom inside her home in northeast Albuquerque and then ordered her to steal cash from the bank where she works.

According to the criminal complaint, the mother of two walked into the bank yelling that someone was going to kill her kids.

She implied that if police were called they would die, but workers called police anyway.

SWAT officers broke into the home and found McDaniel and the two kids.

He was arrested and was charged with kidnapping, child abuse and extortion.

Court background investigators revealed to the judge he has a violent past, including two convictions for battery on a peace officer.

“Based on the nature of the allegations alleged in the complaint that the alleged victims were held at gun point, your honor, we do feel that he does pose a danger to the victims in the case and both to the community,” a court background investigator said.

The judge issued McDaniel a $150,000 bond.

Online jail records show he is still behind bars.

According to the criminal complaint, McDaniel insists the children's mother had no involvement in his extortion plot.

He says he did it because he needed money and could not find a job.