Pontiac Mother’s Jail Phone Privileges Revoked Amid Child Abuse Charges

PONTIAC, Mich. — A judge has temporarily revoked phone call privileges for a Pontiac mother, Kelli Bryant, accused of abandoning her three children in alarming conditions. The ruling comes after Bryant reportedly contacted her children’s caregiver 10 times while incarcerated, violating a court order.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that the contacts jeopardized the children’s safety and contravened the court’s no-contact directive. The judge’s order will restrict Bryant from communicating via telephone, tablet, or video for at least a week.

“Ms. Bryant’s multiple contacts with her children’s caregiver put them at risk and violated the court order,” McDonald said in a statement. “The continued safety and wellbeing of the three children remain our primary concern as we move forward prosecuting this case.”

Bryant, 34, faces charges of first-degree child abuse and welfare fraud after her children — ages 12, 13, and 15 — were found living alone in a townhouse on Lydia Lane for at least four years. The distressing conditions included feces covering the restroom and overflowing from the toilet, along with garbage piles and unsanitary living quarters.

Police conducted a rescue operation on February 14 after a landlord expressed concern over unpaid rent. Officers discovered the children in dire conditions, some of whom had toenails long enough to hinder their ability to walk. Initially, they survived on food delivered weekly by their mother or a service.

The eldest child ventured outside only on rare occasions, while the two youngest had not left the house in years, authorities reported. The mother allegedly instructed them never to leave the residence.

Judge Cynthia Thomas Walker had previously set Bryant’s bond at $250 million, a figure intended to deter her from violating court conditions. In early March, Walker issued a warning that any breach of release conditions could lead to serious repercussions, including arrest without a warrant and potential forfeiture of bond.

Bryant’s defense attorney, Cecilia Quirindongo-Baunsoe, was unavailable for comment following the judge’s ruling. The court continues to prioritize the children’s safety in this ongoing legal matter.