SANFORD — A judge ordered a mother from Sanford to be held without bail at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Framingham until she can be returned to Maine to face charges she fled to the Bay State with her two daughters. Authorities said the girls are in the custody of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Brittany Bohan, 28, was arrested by Massachusetts State Police without incident at a home in Beverly, Massachusetts, on Monday. Police said the two children, aged 9 and 7, were unharmed and were to be returned to the custody of Maine Child Protective Services.

A complaint on file at York County Superior Court in Alfred charges Bohan with criminal restraint by a parent, a Class C felony. The charge alleges Bohan “on or about March 15 in Sanford … knowing she had no legal right to do so, did take, retain or entice (the children) … with the intent to remove the children from the state or to secrete …. and hold them in a place where they were not likely to be found.”

Sanford Police Officer Richard Bucklin said police checked with numerous friends and relatives of Bohan in their quest to locate her and the children.

Police in the Bay State had received a “Be on the Lookout” alert issued by Sanford Police about 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Danvers Barracks received information that Bohan could possibly be at a home in Beverly.

Multiple Massachusetts State Police cruisers, along with Beverly Police, traveled to the address and eventually located Bohan along with the two children, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement.

Bohan was placed under arrest without incident and taken to the Danvers Barracks for booking. She was charged with being a fugitive from justice and made an appearance on Tuesday morning at Salem District Court.

Police said arrangements will be made to transport her to Maine.

A Class C crime carries a maximum prison term of five years, upon conviction.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.

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