Charges filed over girl's medications

DETROIT, March 28 (UPI) -- A woman arrested after a 10-hour standoff with Detroit police says she was protecting her 13-year-old daughter from unnecessary medication.

Maryanne Godboldo, 56, is accused of barricading herself inside her home with her daughter and a gun after Child Protective Services workers tried to serve a warrant last week to remove the girl because the Godboldo had withheld her medication, The Detroit News reported Monday.

Godboldo faces charges of firing a weapon in a dwelling, felonious assault, resisting and obstructing an officer, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, the newspaper said.

Godboldo's family and supporters said she has the right to make medical decisions for her daughter and that child welfare workers exceeded their authority.

Originally schooled at home, the daughter wanted to attend middle but needed to catch up on required immunizations.

"We believe she had an adverse reaction to her immunizations," Maryanne's sister Penny Godboldo said.

Godboldo sought help from The Children's Center, an organization that helps families with at-risk children, where a medical and mental health treatment plan was prescribed.

Godboldo told relatives medications ordered by a doctor worsened symptoms, including behavioral problems.

"Maryanne's decision to wean her from that was making a difference, making her better, helping her to be a happy kid again," Mubuarak Hakim, the girl's father, said.

A preliminary hearing has been set for April 8.