Lori Vallow had her first court appearance in Idaho Friday. The Idaho woman is facing charges in the disappearance of her two children.
Vallow faces five charges, including two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of two of her children, 7-year-old J.J. Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, who have been missing since September.
KSL 5 TV live streamed the arraignment. One of Vallow’s attorneys, Edwina Elcox, asked the judge to lower her $5 million bond, saying it was “astronomically excessive” and should not be set by the court of public opinion. And Elcox said if Vallow did bond out, she could not get very far.
“She cannot go anywhere without cameras and people scrutinizing her every single move. She poses no flight risk whatsoever,” said Elcox.
Then Elcox said Vallow is innocent of the charges against her, causing gasps and muttering from the people in the courtroom.
“Here today, Lori is innocent. Lori will absolutely abide by any pre-trial release conditions, any sort of monitoring the court requires, but there is simply no basis for a bond this high and it must be reduced given the charges she is facing,” said Elcox.
Prosecutor Robert Wood said Vallow was a flight risk. He listed several reasons why, including that Vallow was already defying a court order to produce the children.
“The children are still missing. And the defendant has not only misled law enforcement in their efforts to find the children, but she has completely and utterly refused to aid in any attempts to find the children, even before the charges were filed,” said Wood.
Judge Faren Eddins reduced bail to $1 million dollars. In order to post bond, the judge said Vallow had to wear an ankle monitor and could not leave Bonneville, Madison, Jefferson and Fremont counties.
Vallow’s next court appearance will be a preliminary hearing, set for March 18.
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