Woman on probation for snatching child

A Hungry Horse woman will be on probation for 10 years after taking her 1-year-old son from his grandparents after losing custody of the child.

Bryndi Gibson, 23, was sentenced Sept. 24 in Flathead District Court by District Judge Ted Lympus.

Gibson and her boyfriend Beau Blasius, 28, the child’s father, showed up at Blasius’ parents’ house in the middle of the night on April 27, 2012, and took the child.

The incident prompted an Amber Alert to be issued.

Gibson, Blasius, and the child were later located along with the truck in Fife, Wash.

The couple lost temporary custody of the child in April, which a court document states Blasius said was due to a drug problem.

Both initially were charged with felony counts of custodial interference and theft, while Blasius also was charged with felony burglary. Blasius’ theft charge was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to the other charges as well as to a charge of felony issuing a bad check in another case.

He faces up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000 when he is sentenced Oct. 17.

In addition to her suspended sentence, Gibson was ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution to the Montana Department of Corrections in Helena and an extradition fee of roughly $500 to the state.

She only will be allowed to have contact with her child at the discretion of her probation officer.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.