JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The parents of missing toddler Lonzie Barton waived their court appearance in Baker County on Tuesday and their attorneys entered not guilty pleas on their behalf.
Ruben Ebron, Lonna's boyfriend, also appeared in court on Tuesday on drug charges he faces from an arrest in May.
Lonna Barton, Christopher Barton and Shawn Hall were arrested in mid-September after authorities say they sold the synthetic drug Molly to an undercover officer in Macclenny. The arrest happened just hours after the Bartons appeared at a custody hearing in for their 5-year-old daughter in Duval County.
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The next court date in Baker County for Chris Barton and Lonna Barton was set for Nov. 17.
Shawn Hall (pictured right) did appear in court on Tuesday and his next hearing was set for Oct. 27.
Ebron's next court date in Baker County was set for December 29.
Lonna Barton remains in the Duval County jail where she is being held without bond on charges of child neglect and lying to police, charges related to the disappearance of her son. Attorney Gene Nichols told News4Jax her arrest in Baker County complicates her case in Duval County.
"Baker County makes her case here in Jacksonville a lot more difficult for her because there was always talk and probably always a belief that even if she knew something about what happened to her child, if she knew who committed an act against her child, she would testify against a person -- potentially her co-defendant in this case," said Nichols.
Barton and her boyfriend, Ruben Ebron, were charged with lying to police following Lonzie's disappearance.
"State attorney here in Jacksonville believe that they can convict both of these people for the charge they have, whether one flips on the other or not, whether one says anything to the other or not," Nichols said. "While all this is going on, even if she were to beat her case in Jacksonville, she still is stuck with the Baker County case."
Police said Lonna Barton left her son in the care of Ebron and went to work the night on July 23 even though the boy had apparent head injuries and fluid running out of his ears. Prosecutors want to try Ebron and Lonna Barton together.
A judge heard arguments on that motion and is expected to rule prior to Lonna Barton and Ebron's next Duval County court appearance Oct. 29.