Sarah Belmore remained at York County today, held in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.
The two children, who are 5 and 3 years old, are safe. They were located, along with their mother, on Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Sanford Police put out the word they were looking for them.
Details of where they were found, and in what circumstances, have not been made public.
Because the courts were closed Monday as a result of the snow storm, she is expected to make a first appearance today Springvale District Court via video from the jail.
Belmore is charged with criminal restraint by a parent, a Class C felony which carries a maximum prison term of five years upon conviction.
According to Maine statutes, a person is guilty of criminal restraint by a parent if, being the parent of a child under 16 years old and knowing they have no legal right to do so, “takes, retains or entices the child from the custody of the child’s other parent, guardian or other lawful custodian.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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