Charge tossed against woman left in cell 4 days

updated 8:20 p.m. ET May 20, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A woman who was forgotten in a courthouse holding cell for four days without food or water will not be prosecuted on the charge that landed her in the system, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

A charge of selling pirated recordings was dropped Monday after prosecutors were able to verify Adriana Torres-Flores' alibi, Deputy Prosecutor Mark Booher said. She claimed she was watching a booth for someone else when police raided the flea market and seized pirated CDs and DVDs.

Torres-Flores, 38, pleaded not guilty in March, and Circuit Judge William Storey ordered her jailed because federal authorities had arrested her in December as an illegal immigrant.

A bailiff locked her in a holding cell at the Washington County Courthouse but forgot to call deputies to drive her to the county jail. Court was canceled the next day — Friday — because of stormy weather, and the courthouse was closed over the weekend.

No food, water or bathroom
Torres-Flores had no food, water or access to a bathroom during that time. She was discovered when the work week resumed and treated at a hospital. The bailiff was suspended for 30 days without pay.

Torres-Flores' attorney, Nathan Lewis, said his client and her family were pleased with the prosecutor's decision. "She doesn't want to be in that courtroom again," he said.

Torres-Flores, originally from Mexico, has lived in the United States for at least 15 years and has three children who are U.S. citizens. She is free on bond in the immigration case, and a hearing is scheduled in December, according to Philip Miller, a deputy field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

More from msnbc.com When's Palin leaving? Take our weekly quiz Looking at China unrest from Mongolian perch Adventures in Cancerland: Lust for life Red Tape: Credit card firms' new squeeze Elkhart Blog: Making sure health care isn't casualty

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Scrub tech causes major hepatitis scare in Colo. Body found at N.Y. skyscraper Mo. man charged in quadruple killing Young hunter who killed hiker gets 30 days Central Park’s stolen eagles return to roost   Thousands swarm desecrated Illinois cemetery Attorney freed after 14 years in jail Boston mobster describes killing Parents of 16 kids shot to death Suspect in Ark. crime spree shot dead Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: