An Eau Claire woman who helped two teens run away from a residential treatment facility in Eau Claire and brought them to Superior could have the charges against her reduced to ordinance violations.
Ashlynn Alsteen, 21, pleaded guilty Feb. 10 in Eau Claire County Court to two felony counts of interfere with custody-beyond visitation. She accepted a three-year deferred judgment of conviction agreement.
Among the conditions of the agreement, Alsteen must pay monthly installments on a fine and restitution, not work with minors, complete a risk assessment evaluation and have no contact with the two minors she brought to Superior.
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If Alsteen successfully fulfills the conditions, the criminal charges would be amended to county ordinance disorderly conduct violations with no added penalty.
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According to the criminal complaint, Superior police officers located the two runaways, ages 15 and 13, in Superior on April 3, 2019 and contacted the Eau Claire Police Department.
The teens reportedly told a Douglas County criminal case manager that Alsteen, an employee of the treatment facility, helped them run away and get to Superior. Alsteen brought a bag and packed the juveniles' belongings inside it at the end of her shift March 30, 2019. She took the bag with her and gave the teens directions to her house on a piece of paper. Shortly after, they left the facility and were able to get an Uber ride to Alsteen's home.
The juveniles slept at Alsteen's home that night and she took them to Superior on March 31, 2019 after calling in sick to work, according to the complaint. She dropped them off at a Superior residence where the boyfriend of one of the teens lived.
The runaways were spotted at a Superior business the afternoon of April 3, 2019, and police caught up with them near a park. They attempted to run from police, but were taken into custody following a foot chase.
