Family members of the woman deputies said made up a lie about her daughter being kidnapped could bond her out Monday.
Maria Irias appeared in court Monday morning. The judge set her bond at $4,000.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrested Irias Sunday morning. She faces charges of child neglect and making a false report.
A sheriff’s spokesperson said Irias reported a man drove away with her 6-year-old daughter after giving them a ride to their Greenacres-area home. The report prompted an Amber Alert.
Irias later admitted to making up the story about the kidnapping, confessing to investigators she was drunk and didn’t know where her daughter was, according to the spokesperson. The girl was safe and with an aunt the whole time.
Through a Spanish-language interpreter, Judge Caroline Shepherd told Irias “you need to get treatment.”
The aunt who had Irias’ daughter, Sandra Rosales, was in court Monday for the hearing. Afterward she said Saturday’s incident was caused by a lot of confusion.
“Nothing is wrong with Maria,” Rosales said. “It was only a bad day. She goes to church four days a week. Praise the Lord, she’s Christian.”
Rosales added she did not see Irias drink alcohol that day.
Rosales said she planned to post Irias’ bond Monday afternoon.
If Irias gets out of jail, the judge ordered her to stay under supervised release, not to have contact with her daughter, not drink alcohol, and submit to weekly alcohol tests.