Buellton man accused of trying to kidnap toddler pleads guilty to amended charge

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A Buellton man who was arrested and accused of trying to kidnap a toddler pleaded guilty to an amended charge and will face one year in county jail.

On Feb. 6, William "Bill" Henderson pleaded guilty to one charge of false imprisonment by violence in connection to an incident that took place last August at Albertsons in Buellton.

At the grocery store, Henderson removed a 2-year-old child from a shopping cart and allegedly began walking to the exit of the store. He was stopped by the child's mother and later fled the store. He was arrested the following week.

In September 2019, Henderson pleaded not guilty to charges of one felony count of false imprisonment by violence and one misdemeanor count of cruelty to a child in care or custody.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said they had received multiple calls from locals who said they had bizarre run-ins with Henderson, who is a local business owner in the Santa Ynez Valley.

As per the terms of his plea, Henderson will receive five years of felony probation and one year in county jail. He will be eligible for transportation to a residential treatment program after serving 270 days of his sentence. The other charges will be dismissed.

Henderson will not be allowed to consume alcohol and is also required to complete a 6-month outpatient treatment program. He's also been ordered to pay $600 in restitution and pay for fines and fees.

He is also not allowed to make contact with any victims in the case.

He is due back in court for sentencing on March 5.