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FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) -- Davis County authorities are looking for a man accused of backing up his wife's phony story that led to felony kidnapping charges against an innocent man.
Larry Dywane Wallace, 25, and his wife have been charged with obstruction of justice and unlawful detention for falsely claiming a neighbor's daughter had been taken in February by a family friend.
Wallace and his and his 26-year-old wife, Jennifer Marie Wallace, invited the 9-year-old girl to play with their children, then denied to her parents that the girl was at the apartment, Deputy Davis County Attorney Steve Major said.
When the parents called police, Jennifer Wallace claimed a family friend, Edgardo Augustin Castillo, took the girl.
After police left to question Castillo, the Wallaces lowered the girl out their second-story window on a makeshift rope of blankets, prosecutors say.
The girl returned to her parents' apartment, reporting that Castillo had taken her to Salt Lake City, and that she had spent the night in his car while he worked a shift as a custodian.
Castillo, 45, was charged Feb. 26 with first-degree felony child kidnapping based on the girl's statement and the Wallace's supposed eyewitness account. The charges were later dropped.
Jennifer Wallace will receive a court summons, ordering her to appear for an arraignment Aug. 6. An arrest warrant has been issued for Larry Wallace, whom authorities believe is in Texas.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
