Missing Arizona baby's dad in court

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PHOENIX, April 11 (UPI) -- The father of an 8-month-old baby who vanished in 2009 in Arizona was arrested for allegedly trying to sell a stolen game console.

Logan McQueary is to appear Monday in a Phoenix court to face allegations he tried to sell a stolen Nintendo Wii at a pawn shop, KSAZ-TV, Phoenix, reported Wednesday. He has been arrested five times in the past eight years, the TV station said.

McQueary will appear in court one day before opening statements in the trial of Tammi Smith, 40, who is accused of being involved in the disappearance of his son, Baby Gabriel, The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday.

She faces charges of forgery and conspiracy to commit custodial interference, the Phoenix newspaper said.

Court records say Smith, of Scottsdale, wanted to adopt Baby Gabriel and in her desperation helped the baby's mother, Elizabeth Johnson, 25, flee to San Antonio with the child after McQueary was awarded custody in 2009.

Johnson, of Tempe, told McQueary, she smothered the child and threw him in the trash because she was jealous he talked to other women, police records say. Johnson later said she never killed the baby, but gave him to an unidentified couple at a San Antonio park in an arrangement by Smith.

The whereabouts of Baby Gabriel remain a mystery, the Republic said.

Johnson is being held without bond for kidnapping, child abuse, custodial interference and conspiracy to commit custodial interference. Her trial is scheduled for September, the newspaper said.