Anonymous donor pays $500k bond, releasing mother of 4 from Walworth County Jail

WALWORTH COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A mother of four, locked up for more than two months in Walworth County Jail, was released Wednesday, Aug. 6 - and it's all thanks to a complete stranger.

"Just feel like…. I’m just overwhelmed," said Julie Valadez as she left the Walworth County jail Wednesday. "Overwhelmed and so grateful.”

Valadez’s family and friends anxiously watched, as an anonymous donor's check for her half-million-dollar bond paid for her freedom.

"Miracles happen and I just want to thank God," said Valadez.

Valadez is facing two felony charges for interfering with child custody. She's accused of helping her son, who is a minor, leave Wisconsin to come stay with her in Canada in January of 2023 - while not having full custody of him.

"Domestic abuse is so hard on families in general," said Valadez. "It impacts us in such deep ways."

Valadez says she was just helping her son get to a safe space away from his father and her ex-husband, Ricardo Valadez, who she claims abused both her and her children.

According to court documents, Ricardo was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for domestic abuse against Julie in 2017. Which the state later agreed to amend in 2019 because of a plea deal.

Ricardo was eventually awarded full custody of all four kids, which he still has to this day despite an appeals court overruling this decision.

Julie Valadez says she will keep fighting. For her, justice is being with her kids.

"Being with my children, they’ve kept me alive," said Valadez. "Along with the generous donor and so many here. The resolution is being with my children."

Valadez is back in court in late August for a motion hearing and will then have a jury trial for the two felony charges.