| For Immediate Release Case # TBA
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MOTHER CHARGED WITH ABDUCTING 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER DURING SUPERVISED RESTAURANT OUTING WITH CHILD AND FOSTER FATHER
SANTA ANA – A mother was charged today for abducting her 4-year-old daughter during a supervised visit with the child and her foster father last Friday. Angela Marie Aiton, 34, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of child stealing. She faces a sentencing enhancement allegation for a 2005 prior strike conviction for residential burglary. If convicted, Aiton faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison. The People will be requesting $50,000 bail at her arraignment tomorrow, Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
In March 2010, Aiton lost custody of her daughter, 4-year-old Child Doe, at which time the child was taken into protective custody and sent to live with foster parents. On May 28, 2010, the defendant is accused of meeting with Child Doe and her foster father at The Cheesecake Factory at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. At around 6:30 p.m. during the supervised visit at the restaurant, the defendant is accused of pretending to take the child to the restroom. Instead of returning the child, Aiton is accused of taking the child out the front door and driving away in her black Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The foster father called Newport Beach Police about 10 minutes later when he realized they were gone. An AMBER Alert was issued.
On Saturday, May 29, 2010, at about 2:30 p.m., a witness called 911 after seeing the defendant’s car traveling southbound on the Interstate 405 and transitioning westbound onto State Route 90. A Los Angeles Police Department officer stopped the vehicle, arrested the defendant, and safely recovered Child Doe.
The Newport Beach Police investigated this case. Deputy District Attorney Jim Bacin of the Child Abduction Unit is prosecuting this case.
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