Mother faces truancy charge after son's absences

Detroit-area mother faces truancy charge after autistic son's school absences, late arrivals

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Published On: Jan 06 2012 09:24:06 AM EST   Updated On: Jan 06 2012 11:37:20 AM EST
WARREN, Mich. -

A suburban Detroit mother is charged with truancy after school officials say her autistic son was absent or late hundreds of times in recent years.

The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens reports 27-year-old Andria Black of Warren was in 37th District Court on the case Thursday. She's fighting the misdemeanor charge brought after school officials said the boy, now 7, was chronically absent without explanation or late.

A conviction is punishable by up to 90 days in jail.

Deano Ware, a lawyer for Black, says Fitzgerald Public Schools and the Macomb Intermediate School District unfairly lumped together absences and late arrivals dating back to 2008.

A charge was brought last year. A judge Thursday postponed a trial to allow time for motions. A hearing was scheduled for Feb. 16.

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