Mother Who Abducted Her Baby Boy Spared Jail

A Ventura County judge Tuesday spared a Wisconsin woman from jail for abducting her infant son 17 years ago and hiding the boy from his biological father.

Linda Sue Decker, who now uses the name Michelle Jones, broke into tears and embraced her attorney, Jay Johnson, after the ruling. She could have been sentenced to four months in jail, but instead was ordered to serve 250 days of community service in Wisconsin.

“I am very relieved,” Jones said, clutching the hand of her husband, William, as she faced reporters. “I just want to say I’m sorry.”

The court decision ends the longest-running child abduction case in county history, and sets the stage for Oxnard High School teacher Robert Decker to begin a relationship with his son, 18.

The pair reunited for the first time Dec. 18 at Johnson’s law office. It was the desire for future meetings that spurred requests for leniency by prosecutors and the defense.

“Unfortunately and tragically, there is nothing we can do to make up those 17 years for Mr. Decker,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Denise Payne told Judge Bruce Clark during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.

Michael Jones wrote to the judge asking for mercy toward his mother. Decker, 51, also opposed jail time for his 38-year-old ex-wife.

The teenager, taken at age 9 months from his Camarillo home, only recently learned the true identity of his father.

A nationwide search for the boy produced nothing until July 10, 1998, when police in Georgia stopped Michelle Jones after receiving an anonymous tip.

Decker said Tuesday he is looking forward to future meetings with his son. “He’s a real good-looking kid,” Decker said proudly. “He’s quite an athlete.”