Court orders long-term rehab

A judge today ordered a Walhalla mother of four children into long-term rehabilitation after she pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful neglect of a child.  The conditions of the sentence announced by Judge Alex Macaulay spare Heather Wilbanks of any additional jail sentence; however, the 25-year old is to be held until space becomes available in the Haven of Rest re-habilitation program.  Wilbanks was arrested in January 2014 when, according to Assistant Solicitor Lindsey Simmons, the Walhalla police found Wilbanks’ four children had been left unsupervised, without adequate food, in conditions unsafe to the children.  Macaulay was told that the defendant has since lost custody of the children.  Danny Day, defense attorney, said his client recognizes that she needs help and he requested that she be allowed to enter a re-habilitation program recommended by the state Probation, Parole and Pardon Office.  According to Day, the pressure of being a young mother became too much for Wilbanks and she resorted to using drugs, which he described as a crutch for her.  Part of the sentence will subject Wilbanks to drug and alcohol testing.