Man pleads guilty to taking daughter

Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A man who defied a Florida court custody order by disappearing with his daughter to live in Hawai'i for five years has avoided a possible prison sentence by pleading guilty.

Jon Michael Bryan, 45, was sentenced Thursday to two years of house arrest and five years probation to be served in Hawai'i. He was arrested Oct. 29 on Kaua'i and charged with taking 11-year-old Angeline Bryan-Hoercher.

According to the FBI, Bryan picked up his daughter from his former wife, Elke Hoercher for a scheduled visit in June 1998. Then they disappeared.

Five years old when she was taken to Hawai'i, the girl had reached fifth grade at Kapa'a Elementary School when she was found by police.

Police arrested Bryan when he went to pick up his daughter at school.