WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Army mom could face charges after refusing to leave infant behind

Army mom could face charges after refusing to leave infant behind

HUNTER AIRFIELD, GA (NBC) - An Army specialist has been ordered to remain on her base in Georgia after she skipped her deployment to Afghanistan.

Alexis Hutchinson was scheduled to deploy on November 5, but she didn't show up because her child care plan fell through and she had no one to care for her 10-month-old son Kamani.

Her mother was going to take the boy, but she backed out saying she just couldn't handle an active infant.

Angelique Hughes says she is already looking after a special needs child, an ailing mother and an ailing sister.

Hutchinson was arrested for not deploying and her son was put into protective services.

That's when Hughes flew to Georgia to pick him up.

Now, they are all waiting to see how her commanders will handle the situation.

"The baby's only here because I had no choice but to go get him," Hughes says.  "You put him in Child Protective Services.  What am I supposed to do, leave him there?"

Hutchinson's lawyer maintains she is not a conscientious objector trying to avoid deployment.

Hutchinson is based at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia.

An Army spokesman says she is not in custody, but has been told not to leave the airfield until her commander can review her situation and determine if her deployment would present an undue hardship on her family.