Aug 5, 2008 6:39 pm US/Eastern
Charges Filed Against Mom In Missing Girl Case
ORLANDO (CBS4) ―
-
-
Casey Anthony
Orange County, Florida Sheriff's Office/CBS
-
-
Caylee Anthony
Orange County, Florida Sheriff's Office/CBS
Charges have been filed against the mother of a central Florida girl who has been missing for more than a month, but the charges have nothing to do with the girl's disappearance.
Tuesday, Casey Anthony, 22, was charged with child neglect and filing a false statement, which is a misdemeanor. Police say the mother lied to them and didn't report her daughter missing for more than a month. She's being held on $500,000 bail.
The state attorney's office has reportedly offered Anthony a deal which includes limited immunity for any information she can give them which will lead them to her daughter Caylee.
"Any word she says can be used against her in a court of law so therefore some type of protections have to be in place," said Anthony's attorney Jose Baez.
Baez said at this point they have not accepted any offers from the prosecution, but added that talks are continuing.
Prosecutor have refused to release any further details on the disappearance of 2-year-old Caylee in an effort to avoid publicity that could lead the trial to be moved elsewhere.
Anthony's attorney has denied the charges and Anthony believes her daughter is still alive.
Caylee turns 3 on Saturday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)