Father in missing baby case facing reduced charges

The Ludington father of a baby who has been missing since late June is facing reduced charges in her disappearance. A judge on Wednesday dismissed a kidnapping charge filed against 21-year-old Sean Phillips. He's jailed on $250,000 bond, and scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on charges of parental kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. Phillips now faces up to 15 years in prison instead of a possible life sentence.

AP Wire

Sep 15, 2011

Phillips’ lawyer argued his client was the father of Katherine Shelbie-Elizabeth Phillips and couldn’t be convicted of kidnapping under state law.

Katherine was 4 1/2 months old when she last was seen June 29 with Phillips. Katherine lived with her mother, Ariel Courtland, at an apartment in Ludington. Extensive searches haven’t turned up the girl.