Defendant Convicted In North Bay Kidnapping, Domestic Abuse Case

NAPA, CA — A Maryland man faces 40 years in prison for attempted murder, kidnapping and assault during continuous domestic abuse against a woman in 2018, Napa County prosecutors said. Adam Branks, 30, of Frederick, Maryland was convicted Tuesday in Napa County Superior Court of 14 counts that also include assaulting a peace officer, evading police, vandalism and making criminal threats.

Branks tormented the female victim, stabbed her in the leg, kept her in fear and threatened her family for several months as he drove throughout Marin, Solano and Napa counties, prosecutors said.

Branks eventually led American Canyon police and the California Highway Patrol on a pursuit in the victim's Chrysler PT Cruiser on state Highway 29 in Napa County and state Highway 37 through Vallejo on Dec. 19.

When the front tire of the car was damaged and the vehicle slowed down between Mare Island and Sears Point, the victim escaped, American Canyon police said.

Branks struck the victim with her car and crashed into a CHP patrol car. An American Canyon police officer disabled the Chrysler with his patrol car and Branks fled into the marsh between Highway 37 and Skaggs Island, police said. He was persuaded to surrender after an hours-long
standoff and was lifted from the marsh by a CHP helicopter, police said.

Branks is being held without bail in the Napa County jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 7 in Napa County Superior Court, prosecutors said.

Deputy District Attorney Aimee McLeod said the events were "an atrocious case of domestic abuse."

She said law enforcement officers not only saved the victim's life but protected the public by apprehending a dangerous person.

— Bay City News Service