A Hawkins County, Tennessee man charged with kidnapping an 9-year-old girl and setting off a massive Amber Alert search early last year plead guilty in court today

Gary Simpson entered an Alford plea, meaning he did not admit to his charges and maintained his innocence, but felt he had no chance of a not guilty verdict. Simpson was sentenced to 25 years in prison and he must serve 100 percent of his sentence.

Simpson was charged with especially aggravated kidnapping after police say he took his niece by marriage out of school. She was finally found days later safe in a rural area.

Simpson was later also charged with two counts of rape of a child and three counts of aggravated sexual battery.