Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Abducting Granddaughter

KNIGHTSEN, Calif. (AP) -- A woman accused of snatching her infant granddaughter from her son's Northern California home and taking a cab 350 miles to her home in Los Angeles County has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and burglary charges.

Ericka Gallego entered the plea on Thursday. The Contra Costa Times reports that she spoke briefly to reaffirm that she was waiving her right to a speedy trial.

Gallego is scheduled to return to court on June 28, when a date for a preliminary hearing may be set.

Authorities say Gallego took a bus and a cab to her son's home in the Contra Costa County community of Knightsen last month and took his 4-month-old daughter, Ramy Amadea Gallego.

She then allegedly called another cab that took the pair back to her home in El Monte, where she was later arrested.