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Kidnapping Hoax Mom Waives Hearing
Sweeten Waives Hearing, Remains Out On Bail
RICHBORO, Pa. - A Bucks County woman accused of faking her abduction and taking her daughter to Disney World appeared in court Monday.
Flanked by her husband and her attorney, Bonnie Sweeten headed into court for her 11 a.m. scheduled appearance and came out 10 minutes later, giving up her right to a preliminary hearing where she could have heard the evidence against her.
Fox 29 asked Sweeten's attorney why they waived the hearing, and he said they have no desire to relive the past.
"There was really no point. It in no way furthered her cause to rehash the events of a few weeks ago. It just didn't do anybody any good," attorney Louis Busico said. "She wants to move on, she wants to put this behind her and she wants to ensure that she can reestablish a family unit."
Sweeten is charged with making a false report for her 911 call, where she claimed she and her 9-year-old daughter, Julia Rakoczy, had been carjacked and kidnapped.
The Bucks County District Attorney's Office also charged Sweeten with identity theft for allegedly using a former co-worker's drivers license to buy plane tickets to Florida.
After nearly 30 hours, the two were found at a hotel in Disney World.
The 38-year-old mother of three has been out on bail since posting 10 percent of $1 million dollars after she was extradited back to Pennsylvania.
Sweeten remains under investigation for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her previous employer and others.
"All I can tell you is it's still under investigation. We're looking into it," Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry said.
According to Sweeten's attorney, she has undergone mental health treatment and is now devoting her time to her children
"She's doing much better with the support of the family, with the treatment that she's in, and the fact that she's reunited with the children and life's returning somewhat to normal," Busico said.
Sweeten maintains her innocence, and a lot of her family members were also in court, packing the room in a show of solidarity, Kim reported.
Sweeten is due back in court for her arraignment on July 24.
