Saline woman convicted of refusing to allow her teenage daughter's friend to leave during sleepover
A Saline woman pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge for holding her teenage daughter's friend against her will during what was supposed to be a sleepover.
Cheryl Applegate, 38, admitted to a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree child abuse during her scheduled preliminary hearing in district court, records show.
Prosecutors will drop one count of unlawful imprisonment — a felony that carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence — at sentencing next month.
Applegate was charged in September after authorities concluded their investigation into an unusual kidnapping report involving a 14-year-old Saline girl. Police said Applegate picked up the girl, whom she has known for years, on her way to picking up her daughter from her father’s house for a scheduled sleepover on July 23.
But Applegate's daughter wasn't at her father’s house. Applegate still took her daughter's friend to her home and would not allow her to leave or call anyone during the night. In a five-page written statement to police, girl said she was never harmed, but was scared and was crying throughout the night, according to reports.
She said she was afraid to fall asleep and after arguing with Applegate in the morning, just decided to run out the front door to a neighbor’s house, where she called her mother.
Officers responded to Applegate’s home later that day and referred her for treatment at the University of Michigan Medical Center’s psychiatric ward based on her statements about what occurred.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
proudparent
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 10:31 a.m.
Does anyone know her reasoning for keeping the girl? I guess i missed that part of the story!?
redwingshero
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 10:06 a.m.
Somebody holds my kid against their will.....I would do whatever it would take by any means neccessary to get them back, period.
Killroy
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 9:47 a.m.
Takes all kinds. That's why family is so important.
Joe Citizen
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.
@Huronbob I don't see an issue with commenting on it but the comments are always jokes and/or excuses for the mentally ill. The real issue to be discussed is why the State of Michigan will prosecute and lock up the mentally ill but won't house them in mental institutions anymore. It was "wrong" (AKA expensive)to commit people and lock them in a padded room where they could not hurt themselves or anyone else. Now apparently we wait until the mentally ill victimize someone to lock them up. Then people line up to say "but she's mentally ill... she needs help! Not a jail cell!" This is where the discussion should go.
bs
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 6:34 p.m.
this really is the kind of event/story that shouldn't be discussed on a forum.
AlwaysLate
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 5:26 p.m.
Geepers! Now sleepovers are becoming dangerous?? Any sign of Ms. Applegate's real daughter??
rosy12
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 5:17 p.m.
Let me clarify - I don't belive they should have given her 15 years in prison. But a misdemeanor??
Terrin
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 4:26 p.m.
Obviously, the woman had psychiatric issues. Otherwise, the police wouldn't have referred her to the psychiatric ward. Further, prosecutors usually charge people with one really scary charge and one more realistic charge. It is a scare tactic to get you to plead to the lessor charge. Makes their job easier.
Fat Bill
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 4:21 p.m.
It appears some sort of a mental breakdown is the issue here. Provided the woman is receiving treatment and is no longer a threat, why convict her of a felony and lock her away for years? Surely not retribution...
rosy12
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 3:39 p.m.
If someone kidnapped my daughter and kept her overnight against her will I would be livid that it was then dropped down to a misdemeanor. Can you imagine how scary that was for that child? Unbelievable!!