Jan 13, 2010

Florida grandmother forgotten in jail for 15 days

A 78-year-old Florida grandmother was arrested for driving on a suspended or revoked license and spent 15 days in jail -- including Thanksgiving -- before being released.

Gabrielle Shaink Trudeau, was initially pulled over in September for driving too slowly. She was then issued a ticket for driving on a suspended or revoked license.

After failing to show up for a court appearance, a judge issued an arrest warrant for the criminal charge that carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Public defenders failed to appear at her initial court appearance, and public defenders did not meet with Shaink Trudeau at the Broward County Jail.

On the morning of her initial appearance, the pretrial services division found that Shaink Trudeau was eligible for pretrial release on her own recognizance, but failed to alert the judge of that.

The charges against her were finally dropped 15 days after her arrest.

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