The mother of a missing California child pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony false imprisonment, a charge authorities say is unrelated to the disappearance of her 9-year-old daughter last month.
Ashlee Buzzard, 40, appeared in court with her public defender and was released from jail in Santa Barbara despite objections from the district attorney’s office, according to a statement from Amber Frost, a spokesperson for the district attorney.
Buzzard must wear a GPS tracking device and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 19.
She is accused of holding Tyler S. Brewer, a paralegal, against his will on Nov. 6 at her Lompoc, California, home, according to the criminal complaint. She was arrested the same day.
“The manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication or professionalism,” the criminal complaint said.
Brewer said he has known Buzzard for years and went to her home to help with the search for her daughter, Melodee. When he arrived, Buzzard allegedly threatened him with a box cutter and refused to let him leave, NBC affiliate KSBY of San Luis Obispo, California, previously reported.
Brewer said Buzzard “became visibly distressed after sharing information she appeared to regret disclosing,” he said in a statement, KSBY reported.
“Despite multiple requests to be allowed to exit the home, I was not immediately permitted to leave,” he said in the statement. “The door was secured by several locks, which delayed my ability to exit.”
Buzzard’s attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.
She remains a central focus in the search for her 9-year-old daughter, who was last seen on surveillance video on Oct. 9 in an area around the Colorado-Utah border, according to the Santa Barbara sheriff’s office.
Law enforcement officials previously said Melodee was spotted on security video at a car rental business on Oct. 7 with her mother. Investigators believe that was the start of a road trip to Nebraska.
Melodee appeared to have been wearing a wig in the video, according to the sheriff’s office. She was reported missing after a school administrator reported her prolonged absence on Oct. 14.
Authorities previously said that Buzzard has not cooperated with investigators searching for Melodee.
“This crime is not connected to the ongoing search for Melodee, however, detectives are unable to fully outline the crime as it would impede their ongoing investigation,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department said last week in reference to the false imprisonment case.
