Mom Ends Up in Court After Taking Daughter's Phone

Though larceny charges were ultimately dismissed
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 20, 2018 12:05 PM CDT
Mom Nearly Went to Jail for Taking Daughter's Phone
Stock photo   (Getty Images / Denisfilm)

A Michigan mom who took away her 15-year-old daughter's phone faced, at least briefly, 186 days in jail. Jodie May says she decided to punish the girl in April after she got into trouble at school, but then found herself under arrest in May after her ex-husband told police he owned the phone and alleged May stole it. She initially faced a misdemeanor charge of larceny punishable by up to 93 days in jail, and prosecutors later added a second charge of larceny by conversion also punishable by up to 93 days in jail. But before her trial started Tuesday, prosecutors told the judge they had learned the phone actually belonged to the teen, not her father; charges were thus dismissed, reports WOODTV.

"Mom prevailed," May said after leaving court. "I think it's ridiculous. I can't believe I had to be put through it, my daughter had to be put through it, my family. I'm very surprised, but I'm very happy with the outcome." (More parenting stories.)

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