Judge denies continuance after COVID-19 is claimed

FALLS CITY – A district judge in Falls City issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for a former Falls City woman despite her lawyer’s request for a continuance due to a second-bout with COVID-19.
Stacy O’Banion, 40, was scheduled to be sentenced for misdemeanor abuse of four children and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Prosecutors had alleged that she provided alcohol and marijuana to her children.
Her attorney asked for a continuance Tuesday, saying O’Banion had moved to Georgia and could not get on an airplane to fly for the court hearing because of her second bout with COVID.
Deputy Richardson County Attorney Samantha Scheitel said O’Banion failed to appear previously under the excuse of COVID-19 and did not provide documentation from a doctor regarding the diagnosis in the current incident.