Judge frees father who triggered Amber Alert

A Pahrump man who triggered an Amber Alert across 11 Western states after kidnapping his 6-month-old son in November turned himself in Thursday.

Stephen Alarid, who had been wanted since the kidnapping, walked into Pahrump Justice Court for a hearing on an unrelated case, court administrator Kathy Ivey said. After the prosecutor and defense lawyer said Alarid was not a flight risk, Justice of the Peace Tina Brisebill let him go free on the promise of making future court dates, Ivey said.

Nye County authorities issued the Amber Alert Nov. 18 after Alarid kidnapped his son, Julian, during a meeting with his estranged wife. He returned the boy the next day but remained on the run.

Alarid was wanted on charges of second-degree kidnapping, domestic battery and violation of a protection order.

He was listed on the America's Most Wanted Web site as a fugitive shortly after the Amber Alert was issued. The post was still up Friday.