A woman who took her two children out of the state without permission will spend one year in the Kosciusko County Jail.
April Haywood pleaded guilty to interfering with child custody, a Class D felony, and was sentenced to 1-1/2 years in prison for the crime. As part of her plea agreement, the prison sentence was suspended and she was sentenced to one year in the Kosciusko County Jail and six months probation. If she qualifies, she may serve her sentence in the Kosciusko County Work Release Program. She also may take classes at Ivy Tech during that time.She also must have an assessment at the Bowen Center and agree to take whatever treatment is recommended. She also may be ordered to take parenting classes.
She was ordered to pay restitution to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department in the amount of $319.61 and pay $2,571.19 restitution to the boys' father, Ryan Reese, to cover attorney fees associated with the case. She also must pay court costs.
Haywood was arrested in March after she and her two sons, Bhrett and Breydan Weese, were found in Hayes, La. Haywood disappeared with the boys in September after she lost custody of the children to their biological father, Ryan Weese.
The boys were listed in the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children database, and a tip led to their whereabouts in Louisiana.
This morning, Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer accepted a plea agreement for Haywood.
Haywood's attorney Michael Reed spoke to the court on her behalf.
"April is truly sorry for the decision to move her children to Louisiana without letting anyone know. ... It was a serious mistake," Reed said. "That point has been driven home by the fact that she has had no contact with her children since March 15, 2009," Reed said. "You can be assured that this will not happen again, and she has learned from her mistake.
"She panicked in 2008 when this happened. She thought she was doing what was in the best interests of her children. ... Her motherly instinct kicked in to protect her children. She just plain panicked."
Reed then asked that Judge Huffer consider a suspended sentence in the case. Reed said this was Haywood's first offense, she is gainfully employed, and she already spent six days in jail.
After Judge Huffer said he accepted the plea agreement, he asked if Haywood had anything to say to the court.
"I am sorry for my actions," Haywood said. "It will never happen again."
Judge Huffer then said, "I disagree with Mr. Reed when he refers to your motherly instinct. ... You used a ruse ... to keep a father away from his children."
Huffer called Haywood's actions "reprehensible." He questioned her "motherly skills" and cited an instance in the pre-sentence investigation that said her son was not able to eat without pain even though there was access to dental services.
After hearing Judge Huffer's statement, Haywood was taken into the custody of the Kosciusko County Jail to begin serving her sentence.
