Mother Ordered To Appear In Court

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Posted: 12:00 PM Sep 10, 2008
Last Updated: 12:50 PM Sep 10, 2008

14 comments

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For the first time, a woman accused of abandoning her baby on a doorstep appears in court.

Lexington police charged Ashley Stephens back in July, after a woman found a day-old-baby in a laundry basket outside her home.

She is charged with abandonment of a minor.

On Wednesday morning, Stephens attempted to have the case waived to the grand jury without her client having to show up in person, but the judge would not allow it.

He ruled that despite the high-profile nature of the case, Stephens had to show her face.

After Stephens made her appearance, the judge waved the case to the grand jury. It will be up to jurors to decide if the case warrants criminal charges.

Stephens did not comment after her court appearance. She was escorted out of a side door very quickly following the proceedings.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Caring Mom Location: Reality on Sep 11, 2008 at 12:00 PM
char62, totally agree with you, people need to quit making excuses for her.

Posted by: Angry Location: Florida on Sep 11, 2008 at 11:26 AM
All of you who think she shouldn't be charged are a disgrace to society. She is old enough to know that leaving a baby on a door step is wrong. If she didn't think it was wrong then she needs counseling and punishment. Yes, at lease she didn't hurt it, but come on people, she should be punished for abandoning this poor baby! There is no excuse for this and hopefully it does scare young women and make them realize there are consequences for their stupid actions!

Posted by: char62 on Sep 11, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Doing the child a favor? Leaving him in a basket, on a porch for God knows how long? It is ludicrous to gloss this entire situation over and make excuses for this low life woman who thought nothing of abandoning her newborn baby in a basket of all things. If she did not want her child, she could have contacted an adoption agency, church or a family resource center to find out what she needed to do in order to make sure her child was taken care of. There is NO excuse for abandoning any child and especially in this manner.

Posted by: Concerned Location: Lexington on Sep 11, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Though in a state of desperation, this mother put her child in a location where she knew it would be found and cared for. She should receive counseling, not punishment. Save punishment for those who kill their children or put them in danger of dying. There are thousands of families in KY who would gladly take this child into their lives and be wonderful parents. Charging this mother with a crime when other mothers in the same situation make the choice to murder their children seems very unjust. I agree with Leslie, this will make other mothers hesitate to leave their babies in a safe place.

Posted by: Angie Location: Lexington on Sep 11, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Ya know they say she should have taken him to a "SAFE " place, well usually these young mothers don't know of the SAFE places...I can say i am a mother and I had no Idea at that age that there were such places....I agree she should not be charged due to she did the BEST she knew to do...however if she wanted to give him up for adoption, I know several people that can't have children and would have loved to have him. Good Luck Ashlee, I wish u the Best.

Posted by: Rhonda Location: Johnson on Sep 11, 2008 at 07:35 AM
It's not right that she left this baby this way. But I do have to say that at least she did leave the baby in a good neighborhood for someone to care for properly and love this child. She obviously felt unable to do those things. So I agree partly with "Whitney in Lex." she didn't kill the baby or put it in a dumpster to die, like so many others have done in the near past, she was trying to give it a chance to live. I hope they placed the child somewhere where it will be loved as no other!! I am wondering though if she knew the people at the place where she left the baby, and what exactly did make her leave it at this location. and just for curiosity, her reason for leaving the baby.

Posted by: Mommy Location: Irvine on Sep 11, 2008 at 01:35 AM
At least she was kind enough to place the baby in a basket and liveit somewhere she thought would take better care of it. It should be considered an act of love not an act of abandument.

Posted by: Shocked Location: Lexington on Sep 10, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Was this girl really joking around and laughing in court when she is charged with felony abandonment of a minor? She does'nt appear to be taking it very seriously.

Posted by: Rhonda Location: KY on Sep 10, 2008 at 10:34 PM
You go Judge! She should have to show her face in public & she should have to face criminal charges! There are too many families that would have gladly taken this child. It's too bad KY doesn't have a law to charge people with "stupidity", but then our jails & prisons would definitely be overrun!

Posted by: Kev Location: Pikeville on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:52 PM
I have to agree, at least she did try to give the baby to a home. She could have just as easily disposed of it in a garbage can or worse. I dont condone her abandoning the child, but things could have been alot worse.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Nicholasville on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:41 PM
I would have taken it for her no questions asked... We have 5 of our own... Whats one more.... I am glad that she didnt harm the baby and wish the baby well....

Posted by: Leslie Location: ky on Sep 10, 2008 at 07:30 PM
If she is punished, it will make other girls afraid to leave their baby in a safe place, and will leave them where they might not be found or kill them one. I know it wasnt at one of the "safe places" they are supposed to leave a child, but it was safe to her, and she knew the child would be found and cared for.

Posted by: Mom Location: KY on Sep 10, 2008 at 05:42 PM
If she doesn't have a trial, will she be allowed to take the baby back-that is, if she has changed her mind? Why should she be charged anyway? We have all these people who murder and they get life in prison, which most of the time, means they get out after a few years. She took the baby to someone else and didn't hurt it, so that should count for something.

Posted by: Mother Location: Letcher on Sep 10, 2008 at 03:48 PM
You have to give her credit, at least she put the baby somewhere instead of harming it. That should be taken into cinsideration.

Posted by: Whitney Location: lexington on Sep 10, 2008 at 01:47 PM
This girl should have never been charged. She didnt kill this child or hurt it she was trying to give it to someone who would give it a chance in life.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Barbourville on Sep 10, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Does anyone know anymore details? Was she wanting to give the baby away or what?

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