CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A Clarksville mother, who was arrested after her son with special needs ran away from home last week appeared in court Monday. Her trial date was set for July 22nd.
Donna Huffman is charged with child abuse and neglect after her son went missing for 13 hours on June 16.
The 12-year-old went missing around 8 p.m. that Sunday. Huffman did not call police until after 1 a.m.
Huffman said she waited because her son has done this seven times before, and she and his case worker had a plan.
After the boy was missing for five hours, the decision was made to call Clarksville Police. A large group of emergency responders came to the Huffman's Cloud Drive home. He was found about a two-mile drive from his home.
Soon after the boy was found, Clarksville Police went to his home and arrested his mother.
"They wouldn't tell me what I am being arrested for. I tell them I can walk up there, please don't do this, my children are right there, didn't matter," Huffman said. "They didn't tell me until I got to the police station. I got arrested for neglect."
The arrest affidavit stated Huffman's son has the mentality of a 6-year-old. That is something she denied. She said he does suffer from severe behavioral issues.
Huffman was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, and her bond was set at $25,000. She told NewsChannel 5 she used her mortgage money to get out of jail.
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