PORT ANGELES — A July 9 trial date has been set for two parents charged with the April 27 abduction of their two young children from their Sequim-area grandmother.
The father, Paul V. Brawner, 27, and the mother, Robin D. Sather, 30, have been charged with two counts each of felony first-degree custodial interference.
Superior Court Judge George L. Wood on Friday also reduced Brawner’s bail from $10,000 to $2,500.
By late Friday afternoon, Brawner was no longer listed on the Clallam County jail roster.
Sather, who has pleaded not guilty, was released on her own recognizance May 5.
Each charge of felony first-degree custodial interference is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Status hearing
A status hearing for Brawner and Sather has been set for 9 a.m. June 8.
Authorities said the two were living in their car at the time of their arrest about 25 minutes after they allegedly abducted their 14-month and 4-year-old children at 2:40 p.m. April 27.
A Sheriff’s Department deputy retrieved the children unharmed.
State Child Protective Services had placed the children in protective custody with their grandmother, according to the Sheriff’s Department’s arrest report.
Brawner and Sather were arguing with the grandmother when each parent grabbed a child, got into a car and drove away, the report said.
Called 9-1-1
The grandmother called 9-1-1, and a deputy stopped the car at 3:07 p.m.
Sather told a deputy they were taking the children to Port Angeles to visit a lawyer “to do something about the CPS issue,” according to the arrest report.
Brawner is represented by lawyer Karen Unger of Port Angeles.
Sather is represented by lawyer John Hayden of Clallam Public Defenders.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.