Bail decreased to $5,000 for accused kidnapper

EPHRATA — An accused kidnapper’s bail was lowered from $100,000 down to $5,000 by a Grant County Superior Court judge Tuesday morning.

Shirley Jackson, 57, of Waterville, pleaded not guilty to first-degree kidnapping in connection with the alleged kidnapping of 6-year-old Angel Jackson, whom Shirley had cared for since her birth. During Jackson’s arraignment in Grant County Superior Court on Tuesday, Judge John Antosz followed a joint recommendation between Chief Deputy Prosecutor Alan White and defense attorney Robert Kentner and lowered Jackson’s previously set bail of $100,000, down to $5,000. Kentner told the court if his client is able to post bail she will be residing in the East Wenatchee area with her daughter.

White explained to the judge that Jackson has a distant felony conviction in the 1970s and three previous district court convictions. Antosz questioned if Jackson posed a threat to Angel if he was to lower her bail and she posted the $5,000. White said Angel is currently under the supervision of the Department of Social of Health Services (DSHS) and there isn't a risk of Jackson contacting Angel.

There was no discussion of Jackson’s prior involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS). Jackson has a history of at least three prior complaints against her that were investigated by CPS, which resulted in confirmed findings. None of the complaints involved Angel, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Jackson was picked up by U.S. marshals in California last week and transported back to Grant County. Angel was found safe and transported back to Grant County as well. Investigators believe Jackson fled with Angel in mid-May after learning the girl’s foster parents were set to be granted temporary custody of her.

The girl’s foster parents were granted a court order on May 16, which instructed Jackson to hand Angel over to the foster parents. Jackson could not be found and investigators believe she learned of the custody hearing and took off with Angel.

Jackson was a non-custodial caregiver to Angel since the girl’s birth. Angel’s biological mother advised deputies that she had allowed Jackson to take care of Angel and Jackson came up with the idea of listing Angel’s name as Jackson on her birth certificate, so Jackson could better obtain state assistance. Angel’s mother claimed she was in a “bad situation” when Angel was born, which is why she allowed Jackson to take care of her daughter, but he advised that Jackson had no legal right to the girl and never did.