Karen Lynn Staton of Salisbury was convicted this week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felonious restraint, according to a press release from District Attorney Brandy Cook.
Staton admitted her status as a habitual felon and the Judge Richard D. Boner sentenced her to a minimum of 76 months (6.3 years) and a maximum of 104 months (8.6 years).
On March 30, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Paige Drive in reference to a missing child. Upon their arrival, the reporting person said that a minor child was allowed to leave with Staton to go to the store but Staton and the minor child never returned.
During the investigation, deputies responded to Richard Street in reference to the possible location of Staton and the child. Deputies found Staton’s vehicle parked in a street. A person told deputies that the minor child had come to her door saying he was cold. The minor child told investigators that Staton had left him in the vehicle and Staton had been doing drugs.
Staton had previously been convicted of numerous counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses, among other convictions.