A Clark County man charged with kidnapping his own grandmother will serve four years after pleading guilty Thursday.

Thomas Ballard, 33, of 1725 Cole Road, Was arrested in June after Naomi Wingard was taken at knifepoint and forced to drive Ballard to Montgomery County. She was released there without further incident.

In Clark Circuit Court Thursday, Ballard pleaded guilty to the amended charge of unlawful imprisonment and theft by unlawful taking (firearm). Prosecutors recommended a four-year sentence for each, which would run concurrently. In a separate case, Ballard pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree bail jumping. Prosecutors recommended a one-year sentence in that case, which would be served consecutive to his other sentence.

Ballard is scheduled to be sentenced March 15 in Clark Circuit Court.

According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Wingard was on the phone with Kenneth Ballard on the morning of June 7 when Thomas Ballard showed up at her home ono Muddy Creek Road. Kenneth Ballard said he heard Wingard tell Thomas not to come in the house, but they lost contact.

Kenneth Ballard went to her home, but no one was there.

Later in the morning, Kenneth Ballard said Wingard called and said she was in Montgomery County. She said Thomas Ballard forced her to drive him there, then fled in the car.