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Posted: Monday, May 14th, 2012 5:50 AM HST

Dad in sailboat abduction changing plea in Montana

By Associated Press

A change of plea hearing is scheduled in state court Monday for a Montana man who set off a months-long search when he allegedly abducted his three kids and took them to the Bahamas on a sailboat. Forty-four-year-old James Bryant of Belgrade, Mont., is charged with three counts of parenting interference. He pleaded not guilty in an initial court appearance in April. His arrest in Florida in late March came seven months after he allegedly failed to return his children to their mother in Montana under a parental custody agreement. The case is before state District Judge John Brown. Byrant is being held at the Gallatin County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond. Bryant's current wife, Angela, was arrested on similar charges in Hawaii. She has challenged her extradition to Montana.