Man Takes Money from State After Children Vanish

A foster father is guilty of taking money for his foster children while the children were missing. Colorado Springs judicial leaders have called it a one a kind case.

Edward Bryant said he was guilty before a judge on Thursday afternoon.

Bryant had been set for a jury trial, but gears swiftly shifted after he agreed to a plea deal with the El Paso County District Attorney?s office. The deal specifies Bryant will spend 30 years behind bars for five counts he took responsibility for, that included theft, influencing a public servant, and conspiracy.

Edward and Linda Bryant took money form the state for years after their two foster children Eddie and Austin had disappeared.

Linda Bryant has already been sentenced to 42 years in prison for her role.

The DA?s office told the judge it was comfortable with the potentially shorter sentence for Edward Bryant because Linda played a more active role.

Edward Bryant will not be officially sentenced until next month.

These cases are about the money taken from the state, and not what happened to the missing children. The investigation into where Austin and Eddie Bryant are is still underway.