SARPY COUNTY, Neb. (WTAQ-WLUK) — Gary Day, the man who was traveling with a pregnant Beaver Dam girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert, pleaded not guilty to two charges Friday and is expected back in court later today.
Day, 40, was arrested this week at a truck stop near Omaha with Sophia Franklin, who was reported missing Feb. 3. Day is the father of the unborn child.
He pleaded not guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing a false name to law enforcement – both misdemeanors.
Day also faces charges in Vermont and Indiana for exploitation cases, which will be the subject of the afternoon appearance.
Beaver Dam police say a witness at the truck stop said she saw a young, pregnant girl with two older men and thought it was weird, so she went up and started talking to them.
The woman reported that the things they were saying were not adding up, so she walked away and did some research on her phone. After recognizing Franklin from the Amber Alert, she called police.
“The female reporting party said, ‘It just doesn’t seem right on what they’re doing together,’ and it was very inconsistent, and that’s why she called 911,” Sarpy Co. Sheriff Greg London said.
When police approached the three individuals, they say Day gave a false name. He also changed his appearance by growing a beard and mustache.
Day was taken into custody without incident, London said. Franklin was transported to Sarpy County’s juvenile justice center and to a hospital to be checked out. Police say she and her baby are in good condition.
“[Her] parents were contacted and as far as I know, the parents are coming to Nebraska to reunite with their daughter,” London said.
The man Franklin and Day were with was a trucker and he did not know who he was talking to, officials said. He was not arrested.
An Amber Alert was issued for Franklin after she was reported missing on Feb. 3. She was 16 years old at the time and three months pregnant. There was a no contact order in place between Franklin and Day.
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