Mother pleads guilty to kidnapping daughter

A Huntington Beach woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to kidnapping her 4-year-old daughter from a Newport Beach restaurant last spring.

Angela Marie Aiton, 34, was sentenced to 123 days in jail and three years’ probation after pleading guilty to felony child stealing, according to court records. She also must attend the court’s Steps to Achieve Recovery Together program, according to records.

Aiton had dinner May 28 with her daughter and her daughter’s foster father at the Cheesecake Factory in Fashion Island, officials said. She had lost custody of her daughter in March.

Aiton pretended to take her daughter to the restroom, but actually snuck her out of the restaurant.

She then fled in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The foster father called the police after about 10 minutes and an AMBER alert was sent out.

Aiton’s Jeep was spotted the next afternoon going southbound on the San Diego (405) Freeway toward the 90 Freeway. She was arrested, and her daughter was taken back into custody.

Britney Barnes