Detroit Judge Upholds Decision In Standoff Mom's Case

DETROIT (WWJ) - It's a big win for a high-profile local Mom who was involved in a 12-hour standoff with police.

A Detroit judge announced Monday he would uphold a lower court's decision to not press for criminal charges against Maryann Godboldo.

Godboldo was held by police last March, accused of firing a gun at officers as they attempted to remove her 13-year-old daughter from her home because she'd refused to give her an anti-psychotic medicine.

Godboldo, 58, had been charged with three counts of felonious assault, discharge of a weapon, resisting and obstructing an officer and felony firearm.

Those charges were dismissed in 36th District Court and, on Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office argued their appeal to have the charges reinstated before Judge Gregory Bill.

Bill upheld the lower court's ruling Monday.

At the courthouse, a tearful Godboldo spoke with reporters about the effect this ongoing case has had on her child.

"She had a difficult time last night. She was up all night. And I know the damage that's been done to my child because of them breaking the law," Godboldo said. "It destroys me."

The Wayne Country Prosecutor's Office will appeal.

Godboldo's attorney Byron Pitts is asking them to back off.

"We ask that the prosecutor in this building, who is Kym Worthy, take a stance and say enough is enough," said Pitts. "We've had two courts, a 36th District Court and a Circuit Court judge, affirm the ruling that this order was invalid."

"We ask that Kym Worth leave this case alone and allow parents to properly take care of their children without any further government interference," he said.

In the meantime, Godboldo is expected at a hearing later Monday to find out if she will regain custody of her daughter, who has been staying with relatives.

The Godboldo case has received national attention as supporters are rallied behind her, saying they were focused on protecting parental rights. Supporters argued Child Protective Services overstepped their boundaries by trying to force their view on the family as to what kind of medication the girl should be given.