The Emporia woman accused of taking a 2-year-old child for longer than allegedly agreed, sparking a search by local law enforcement and a reward through Lyon County Crime Stoppers, has entered a plea in her case.
Jessica Suzanne Downs entered a so-called Alford plea of no contest to misdemeanor interference with parental custody and was subsequently found guilty by Lyon County Judge Lee Fowler. An Alford plea means the defendant says he or she is innocent but admits there is enough evidence to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Back in January, Downs allegedly kept the youngster for two days longer than the visitation agreement indicated by court records provided to KVOE News. The child was reported as missing, setting off an intense law enforcement search before the boy was found safe.
Downs is now set for sentencing at 9:30 am June 9.
