Casey Anthony to Appeal Probation Order
Probation would force her out of hiding by Aug. 26.
Aug. 15, 2011— -- Casey Anthony's legal team said today that they will appeal a judge's ruling that she begin serving a year-long probation later this month that would force the Florida woman out of hiding.
Anthony, 25, has gone underground since she was released from jail last month following her acquittal on charges she murdered her daughter Caylee.
Judge Belvin Perry ruled earlier this month that Anthony must report to a probation officer in Orlando on Aug. 26. The probation is for her conviction of charges of stealing checks from her best friend Amy Huizenga during the period that Caylee was missing.
The Florida probation department allowed Anthony to serve the probation on the check charge while she was in jail awaiting her murder trial, but Judge Stan Strickland, who presided over the check case, said that was a mistake. Strickland issued an order that Anthony return to Florida for a year long probation.
Judge Perry eventually took over the case and ruled that Strickland's original sentence was clear and that Anthony would have to return to Florida for probation. Perry also scolded Anthony's legal team for realizing the Probation Department was making a mistake and allowing the error to proceed.
Will Casey Anthony Be Forced Out of Hiding?
Anthony's legal team did not have a response immediately after Perry's ruling, but today told ABC News that they will appeal.
In court papers filed previously, they have argued that Anthony complied with the probation requirement and that forcing her to serve it now would put her in danger since she has received death threats following her acquittal.
Anthony's lead attorney Jose Baez also asked the judge that if she is ordered to comply with the probation demand, that she be allowed to serve it outside of Florida.
Anthony vanished following her acquittal. The only sighting of her were some video of her shopping, reportedly in Ohio.
Her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, issued a statement last week saying that if she does have to return to Florida, Casey Anthony would not be staying with them. They also said they do not know where their daughter is.
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