10-18-2012, 08:07 PM
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/national/...e_39631760
An Arizona woman whose infant son vanished nearly three years ago was convicted of unlawful imprisonment Thursday after a jury failed to reach a verdict on the most serious charge against her, kidnapping.
The Maricopa County jury deliberated for about a day and a half before returning the verdict against Elizabeth Johnson in the December 2009 disappearance of her then-8-month-old son, Gabriel.
The jury also found her guilty of custodial interference and conspiracy to commit custodial inference.
Johnson, 26, shifted in her chair but showed no emotion when the verdicts were read....
The court hearing continued after the verdicts were read, to determine whether there were aggravating circumstances that could make Johnson's punishment more severe.
She had originally faced up to 27 years in prison if convicted of kidnapping and the other charges....
...The would-be adoptive mother from Scottsdale, Tammi Peters Smith, was accused of lying on a court document about the child's possible paternity in an effort to keep Gabriel from his father. Smith was convicted of forgery and conspiracy to commit custodial interference....
An Arizona woman whose infant son vanished nearly three years ago was convicted of unlawful imprisonment Thursday after a jury failed to reach a verdict on the most serious charge against her, kidnapping.
The Maricopa County jury deliberated for about a day and a half before returning the verdict against Elizabeth Johnson in the December 2009 disappearance of her then-8-month-old son, Gabriel.
The jury also found her guilty of custodial interference and conspiracy to commit custodial inference.
Johnson, 26, shifted in her chair but showed no emotion when the verdicts were read....
The court hearing continued after the verdicts were read, to determine whether there were aggravating circumstances that could make Johnson's punishment more severe.
She had originally faced up to 27 years in prison if convicted of kidnapping and the other charges....
...The would-be adoptive mother from Scottsdale, Tammi Peters Smith, was accused of lying on a court document about the child's possible paternity in an effort to keep Gabriel from his father. Smith was convicted of forgery and conspiracy to commit custodial interference....