JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lonna Barton, the mother of missing toddler Lonzie Barton, is back in the Duval County jail, this time held without bond after her arrest last week on drug charges in Baker County.
Lonna Barton was free on bond on charges of child neglect and lying to police last week when Baker County deputies arrested her and Lonzie's father, Chris Barton, on charges of possession and intent to distribute synthetic narcotics.
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Their arrests came hours after the couple appeared in family court both asking for custody of their 5-year-old daughter, who has been in the custody of a grandmother since the day after Lonzie disappeared.
Lonna Barton waived her appearance at Wednesday's hearing and her lawyers offered no opposition to the motion to revoke her bond in light of her Baker County arrest. Judge Marianne Lloyd Aho ordered that Lonna Barton be kept in the Duval County jail until the completion of the case against her.
READ: Motion to revoke bond
Lonna Barton was charged with child neglect because police said she left her son in the care of her boyfriend, Ruben Ebron, and went to work the night of July 23 even though boy had apparent injuries to his head and fluid running out of his ears.
Barton's attorneys dispute the allegations that Lonzie had head injuries that night.
"I don't think it's a very strong case as far as child neglect goes," said her attorney, Kevin Carlisle. "It's a matter of what a mother thought was in the best interest of her child at the time, and I think that's a question the jury will have to answer."
Carlisle wouldn't say whether or not Barton expressed any remorse for her actions while she was out on bond. Defense lawyers wouldn't go as far as to say that Barton has a drug problem, but told News4Jax she's receiving the care she needs in jail,.
After Wednesday's hearing, Lonna Barton was returned to Baker County and is expected to be formally rebooked into the Duval County jail by the end of the week.
"It's my belief she'll be held here in Duval County until this case is resolved, and then she'll face charges in Baker County," Carlisle said.