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2 Helena residents charged with felonies after missing children found

Posted at 9:28 AM, Jan 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-17 11:29:00-05

HELENA – Two Helena residents have been charged with felonies following the safe recovery of two children police reported as missing and endangered last week.

Shala Hood, 31, and Lonny Kaufman, 44, appeared in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court on Monday.

Police issued a Missing and Endangered Persons Advisory (MEPA) on January 8 for Hood’s two children after a judge signed an order approving the children’s removal from the home by Child Protective Services.

According to court documents, detectives met with Kaufman in order to try and locate the children, but he denied knowing Hood’s or the children’s whereabouts.

On Saturday, police said they were tipped off that Hood and the children were at a Helena hotel. When police arrived, they found Hood in a room, and Kaufman and the children in a car.

Shala Hood is charged with custodial interference. Her bail is set at $10,000. Kaufman is charged with obstructing justice. His bail is set at $25,000.