Vandalia Woman Charged With Unlawful Restraint and Endangering The Life of a Child Appears in Court

A Vandalia woman charged with multiple counts of unlawful restraint and endangering the life or health of a child has plead not guilty in Fayette County Court. 35-year old Crystal Arndt made an appearance in court on Thursday morning where she was advised that a true bill of indictment had been returned by the grand jury. Arndt and her attorney Keith Jacob entered the not guilty plea and waived formal arraignment. Arndt is charged with three counts of unlawful restraint as information states that Arndt or one for whom she is legally responsible allegedly “knowingly and without legal authority” detained three different children in that the defendant allegedly locked the children “in an interior room of a residence, locked from the outside of the door, the window nailed shut, and a board over the window for over 7 hours” at a residence located in Vandalia. The three counts are Class 4 felonies, punishable by one to three years in prison. Arndt is also charged with three counts of endangering the life or health of a child, Class A misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Arndt will make her next appearance in court on September 18 at 9am.