Mom's bond boosted for high-speed chase charge

Wake Forest, N.C. — A Wake County judge increased the bond Monday for a mother accused of leading police and sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase with her toddler in the car.

Police said April Rene Pleasants, 27, of Durham, tried to avoid a driver's license checkpoint on Wait Avenue in Wake Forest shortly before 2 a.m. Monday. When officers saw her 1995 Nissan Maxima make a U-turn and head away from the checkpoint, they began a pursuit, police said.

Pleasants led police on a 45-minute chase through Wake, Franklin and Nash counties, reaching speeds of 90 mph, police said. After she was stopped, officers found her 4-year-old son in the back seat of the Maxima, securely strapped in his car seat, police said.

Pleasants was charged with felony speeding to elude arrest, speeding, driving while license revoked, careless and reckless driving and child abuse.

On Monday afternoon, District Judge Ned Mangum, noting that Pleasants had missed a previous court appearance, increased her bond from $10,000 to $24,000.

The boy was placed in the care of Pleasants' mother, and police called Wake County Social Services to investigate the child abuse charge.

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Latest Comments

"if she didnt have a drivers license then cant see much they can do with her the laws only apply to a person holding a valid license.haveing a licenseing means you are to follow all laws of road driveing.if she didnt have one how can she be charged with anything except no license."

No way that's a serious comment.

Common Sense Man
February 10, 2009 12:30 p.m.

WMT, you run into folks like that that are LEOs, as well as in other professions, not a heap of common sense. I would have told "Barney" because this is where I was going.

wa4mjf
February 10, 2009 8:02 a.m.

Thats just good parenting, people.

Mike D
February 10, 2009 7:53 a.m.

In the this area, if you try to avoid a checkpoint, you are asking to be stopped even if you make a legal U-turn, park in a driveway prior to the checkpont, or exit to another road prior to the checkpoint. My brother turned into my driveway and parked, so one of the LEO jumped in their car, sped to my home less than a 1/8 mile from the checkpoint (with blue lights flashing, and jumped out demanding to know why he did not come through the checkpoint. The only reason my brother was on the road was to visit me. He would have no reason to continue on the stretch of road that went through the checkpoint. Of course, all the neighbors had to check out what was happening. Barney at his best!

Citizen7265
February 10, 2009 7:38 a.m.

if she didnt have a drivers license then cant see much they can do with her the laws only apply to a person holding a valid license.haveing a licenseing means you are to follow all laws of road driveing.if she didnt have one how can she be charged with anything except no license.