A Vandenberg Village mother whose 9-year-old daughter’s whereabouts remain a mystery  has been charged with false imprisonment for an incident that occurred Nov. 6 in the Lompoc Valley.

Ashlee L. Buzzard, 40, spent the weekend in the Santa Barbara County Jail since her Friday arrest on suspicion of felony false imprisonment.

On Monday, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint with one count of false imprisonment for violence against Buzzard, “who did unlawfully violate the personal liberty of Tyler S. Brewer, said violation being affected by violence, menace, fraud and deceit.”

The criminal complaint also includes a special allegation, or sentencing enhancement, for aggravating factors, noting “the manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication and professionalism.”

Beyond the date and name of the alleged victim, the criminal complaint lacks details about the incident, but law enforcement officers have said it’s not directly related to the daughter’s disappearance.

Brewer works as a paralegal and licensed legal document assistant on the Central Coast, confirming his involvement in a Monday night social media post complete with a business card for his service. He did not return a call from Noozhawk seeking comment.

He said he contacted the mother to help locate the missing child. He didn’t specify how he expected to help.

“I am a legal document assistant, process server, mandated reporter, and perceived officer of the court. In that capacity, I immediately reported all concerning communication and inconsistencies directly to law enforcement,” Brewer wrote.

“On November 6th, during an interaction at her residence, the situation escalated. Ms. Buzzard became visibly distressed after sharing information she appeared to regret disclosing.

“A box cutter was produced, and despite multiple requests to be allowed to exit the home, I was not immediately permitted to leave. The door was secured by several locks, which delayed my ability to exit. This incident was reported to law enforcement.”

While authorities said the false imprisonment allegation occurred in the city of Lompoc, Brewer confirmed it took place at Buzzard’s residence.

Before the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office files a criminal complaint, a prosecuting attorney must review investigators’ reports to determine evidence supporting the charges.

Buzzard’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria. Since Tuesday is Veterans Day, the courts will be closed for the holiday.

At the arraignment hearing, an attorney will be appointed and a plea may be entered on the defendant’s behalf. However, often arraignment hearings get continued for various reasons.

Defense attorneys can ask for reduced bail or even seek the release of the defendant on their own recognizance. 

Buzzard’s daughter Melodee, 9, remains missing, and the mother has not cooperated with investigators, according to law enforcement officers trying to determine Melodee’s location or welfare.

Authorities have been searching for Buzzard’s daughter since Oct. 14, when educators asked deputies to conduct a welfare check on the girl who had not been seen recently.

The girl was captured on surveillance video Oct. 7 with her mom at a Lompoc rental car business, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The mother and daughter reportedly traveled east as far as Nebraska with the return trip route including Kansas. 

Detectives say Melodee was last seen Oct. 9 on video surveillance in the region between the Colorado–Utah border. They also say the rented Chevy Malibu traveled through Green River, Utah; Panguitch, Utah; northwest Arizona; Primm, Nevada; and Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Buzzard returned to the Lompoc Valley on Oct. 10 without the girl, according to the Sheriff’s Office. 

During that trip, the mom donned different wigs and switched the license plate on the rented Chevy Malibu vehicle to avoid detection, investigators said.

On Monday afternoon, rocks held down signs seeking information about Melodee in front of Buzzard’s home on the 500 block of Mars Avenue, where a memorial of candles and stuffed animals also sat.

The neighborhood, which has seen an influx of media and concerned community members, remained quiet with residents walking dogs and a UPS delivery driver working his route.

Buzzard remains in the custody of the Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $100,000.