Woman Who Faked Abduction, Pregnancy Gets Probation But Has To Pay
Council Bluffs, IA - A Council Bluffs woman who police say faked an abduction--and a pregnancy--gets probation for the ruse.
But Janice Winfield has to pay Kearney and Council Bluffs police for the time and manpower they spent trying to find her.
A Pottawattamie County judge sentenced Winfield last week. She'd been charged with misdemeanor counts of obstruction of justice, malicious prosecution, and false reporting.
In June of 2011, Winfield sent family members a text message that she was "in distress." She said she'd been hurt, was going into labor and needed help. Family members found evidence of foul play at her home and called officers. She disappeared the day she was supposed to deliver her baby.
Hours later Winfield was caught speeding in her car 170 miles away--in Kearney. She was not hurt, not pregnant and hadn't been kidnapped.
The judge placed Winfield on unsupervised probation, depending on good behavior. She has to continue mental health treatment and pay Kearney police $497 and Council Bluffs police $1426.
Reported by Kathy Sarantos Niver, kathy@action3news.com
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