Delaware County Couple Avoids Jail Time On Child Neglect Charge

The Jay parents who disappeared when authorities attempted to take their infant into protective custody pleaded no contest to child neglect charges and received a deferred sentence, court records show.

Their daughter has been returned to them, according to the Grove Sun.

A judge sentenced Ronald Altaffer, 24, and China Prater, 21, on Monday.

Carolinn Altaffer was the subject of an Amber Alert issued by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office in April 2013. The alert was canceled after the infant showed up at a Grove hospital.

At the time, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services said it had information the child was severely malnourished and obtained a court order to get the child emergency care.

The couple was arrested and charged with child neglect.

4/19/2013 Related Story: Delaware County Mother Charged With Child Neglect

According to the Grove Sun, testimony during Monday's court hearing indicated Altaffer and Prater completed the majority of a DHS treatment plan that is intended to correct the behavior that led to the neglect charge.

The judge gave them both four-year deferred sentences returned the child to their care.