A 36-year-old Tucson woman was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of custodial interference Friday for hiding her two daughters away from their father for several days in December 2009.
Miranda Padilla’s case gained media attention because the girls’ disappearance caused a citywide search.
Padilla's daughters, Marina, 13, and Marissa, 11, disappeared for nine days.
Prosecutors alleged Padilla arranged for her neighbor, Lidia Miranda, 39, to pick the girls up from school and keep them even though their father had custody of them, according to court documents and testimony.
Miranda pleaded guilty in October 2010 to a misdemeanor charge of custodial interference and was placed on two years’ probation.
Padilla, who was indicted on two counts of custodial interference and two counts of obstructing a criminal investigation, rejected a plea agreement.
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The obstructing charges were eventually dismissed and the custodial interference charges were reduced from felony to misdemeanor charges.
As a result of her conviction, Padilla could be placed on probation or receive up to one year in jail, said her defense attorney Michael Bloom.
“I’m very disappointed and the family plans on an appeal,” Bloom said.
Bloom had argued the girls fled their father's home for fear of emotional and physical abuse.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Howard Fell will sentence Padilla next month, said Deputy Pima County Attorney Jesse Navarro.
Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com
