CLEVELAND — The attorney for a Cleveland man accused of kidnapping his son in 2002 and creating a life for them under new identities says the now-18-year-old recently reconnected with his mother in Alabama.
Attorney Ralph DeFranco says the boy who disappeared from the Birmingham area when he was 5 traveled to Alabama to visit his mother over Thanksgiving.
The mother has declined to comment through her attorney.
The boy's father, Bobby Hernandez, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, forgery and other charges Tuesday in Cleveland. He's in custody on $250,000 bond.
DeFranco says Hernandez is a good father who looked out for his son. He says they'll seek a lower bond and eventually talk with prosecutors about a possible plea deal.