TERRE HAUTE —
A Terre Haute woman has pleaded guilty to armed robbery resulting in serious bodily injury for the attempted abduction of a newborn infant and a violent attack on the baby’s parents in June 2010.
Stephanie Foster, 36, faces up to 30 years in prison in a plea agreement that Judge Michael Lewis took under advisement Monday in Vigo Superior Court 6. Lewis set a June 15 date for possible acceptance of the plea and sentencing.
Foster appeared in person for the submission of the plea agreement, and she quietly conferred with defense attorney Michael Wright during the brief hearing. Wright told the judge he plans to present four witnesses in Foster’s defense during the sentencing hearing, estimating 90 to 120 minutes needed for questioning.
The plea agreement dismisses the charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. It also requires Foster to pay $4,200 restitution to the victims and orders her to have no contact with the parents and infant involved in the incident.
Foster has been in the Vigo County Jail about 700 days since she was arrested at a Prairie Creek home on June 23, 2010, after she allegedly stabbed two people in an attempt to abduct their newborn child to cover her false pregnancy.
Investigators have said Foster faked her pregnancy after having a miscarriage, and decided to steal the Prairie Creek couple’s child after reading a birth announcement in the Tribune-Star. Detectives said Foster planned the abduction by preparing false birth certificates and gathering baby clothes.
She allegedly went to the house armed with a BB-gun pistol and a hunting knife, which she used in an attack on the infant’s mother. The infant’s father heard his wife’s yells and went to her aid, subduing Foster and holding her while his wife called 911, authorities said.
The mother was hospitalized after the attack, while the father was treated for his wounds and released. The infant was not harmed.
At Monday’s hearing, Lewis ordered that a previously prepared pre-sentence report be updated before the sentencing hearing.
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter@TribStarLisa.
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In court: Stephanie Foster, 36, faces up to 30 years in prison in a plea agreement that Judge Michael Lewis took under advisement Monday in Vigo Superior Court 6 in Terre Haute. Lewis set a June 15 date for possible acceptance of the plea and sentencing.
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