BILLINGS, Mont. » In a case with a Hawaii connection, a Montana man who abducted his three children and took them to the Bahamas on a sailboat pleaded guilty Monday after reaching a deal with prosecutors that calls for a four-year prison term.
James Ray Bryant, 44, will be sentenced June 27 on a felony count of parenting interference. Two other counts were dropped in a deal with prosecutors signed April 27.
Bryant was arrested in Florida in late March, seven months after the children’s mother said he failed to return them to Montana under a custody agreement.
The children had been reported missing by their mother in August. Investigators knew early on they had been taken to the Bahamas but said they could do nothing because of an arduous extradition process.
After receiving an anonymous tip that the children’s stepmother, Angela Bryant, had flown to Hawaii, police put the home in Puna where she was staying under surveillance, then arrested her during a traffic stop. She told police her husband and the children were in South Florida.
In March, border crews searching for James Bryant and the children spotted a boat 30 miles off the Florida coast attempting to return to Bahamian waters. The children — 15-year-old Megan Bryant, 13-year-old Maxwell Bryant and 12-year-old Sebastian Bryant — were aboard, along with a dog, a cat, a lizard and a snake. Authorities said they had no reason to believe the children were in any immediate danger.
The children were reunited with their mother and legal guardian, Kelly Bryant, in Montana.
Angela Bryant is awaiting extradition to Montana from Hawaii. She is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, said Hawaii County Deputy Prosecutor Jason Skier.
She was initially freed on $10,000 bail after challenging her extradition. After several delays in the case, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer last month sought Bryant’s return via a request directly submitted to Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
Abercrombie approved the extradition request May 5, and Bryant was arrested a second time in the case last week, Skier said. At a Friday court appearance on the governor’s warrant, Angela Bryant was again released, this time on bail of $250, Skier said.
Skier said he asked that bail be set at $250,000, but the judge disagreed, saying Bryant already posted bail once and had shown up for prior court dates.
James Ray Bryant remains in custody at Gallatin County Detention Center in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
Under Montana law a parenting interference conviction can carry a maximum 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
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On vacation: June Watanabe is on vacation. “Kokua Line” returns next week.
