Woman who took child to Australia freed from SC jail

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A former Isle of Palms woman has been freed from jail after completing her sentence for kidnapping her infant daughter and going to Australia 20 years ago.

Multiple media outlets report that 54-year-old Dorothy Lee Barnett was released from the Charleston County jail late last week.

Barnett had been sentenced in February to 21 months in jail on charges of international parental kidnapping and falsifying two passport applications. She was given credit for the time served since her arrest in November 2013.

Benjamin Harris Todd III of Johns Island had custody of their daughter Savanna when Barnett fled the country with her. The daughter had asked for leniency when her mother was sentenced.

Prosecutors said shortly Barnett used a fake birth certificate to get a driver’s license and passport.