Helena Area News

Mom who left children makes court appearance for probation violation

Posted: Feb 27, 2013 7:29 PM by Melissa Anderson - MTN News

HELENA - Angelica Melody Gray appeared in a Helena court on Wednesday on charges to revoke a previous sentence.

Gray was asked by Judge Mike Menahan whether she admitted or denied the alleged violations of her deferred sentence.

Menahan said, "For purposes of today's hearing, this is an admit or deny, do you admit or deny?"

Gray replied with a smile, "I deny it."

Gray's attorney Andy Breuner told the judge he hoped to resolve the issue without another hearing.

However, the County Attorney's office is working on adding more counts to Gray's charges for allegedly leaving her children last December.

Gray, who was staying at the YWCA, was reported missing, but later found in California.

If she's found guilty, Gray faces up to five years on each count of her deferred sentence.

Another hearing is scheduled in two weeks.

(February 21, 2013) Angelica Melody Gray made her initial appearance in District Court on Wednesday morning after being brought back by law enforcement from California last week.

The 22-year old mother of two is in jail on violations of her probation for leaving the state without permission.

Gray's court-appointed attorney told Judge Menahan that Gray has her own attorney who wasn't present in court during today's hearing.

Despite that, the judge chose to let Gray know what she faces for the alleged violation.

Gray was previously given a deferred sentence for two counts of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. One of those was for psilocybin mushrooms, the other for marijuana.

In the petition to revoke, Gray could face up to five years in prison for each count.

The County Attorney's office is still deciding what charges to file against Gray for leaving her children alone at the YWCA in December when she was reported missing; her disappearance sparked a large search by several law enforcement agencies.

Gray remains in jail on a $50,000 bond.