Father of 2-year-old Bianca Jones arraigned on murder and child abuse charges

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The father of missing two-year-old Bianca Jones has been arraigned on murder and child abuse charges in connection with the case.

During the hearing D'Andre Lane pleaded not guilty to first-degree felony murder and first-degree felony child abuse.

His bond was set at $3 million.

Lane's attorney asked that his client be placed in protective custody.

The judge said he would put in the request to the jail, but that it would have to be determined at the facility.

7 Action News spoke with Lane's son, D'Andre Lane, Jr., after the hearing. He said he believes his father is innocent and that he just wants his sister to come home.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced the charges against Lane Wednesday.

Bianca Jones has been missing since December 2, 2011.

At the time Lane told police he was forced from his car at gunpoint by two men in Detroit. Lane claimed the men drove away with Bianca still inside the car.

The vehicle was found minutes later, but there was no sign of Bianca. Despite countless searches for Bianca, her body has yet to be found.

In the days after Bianca's disappearance, Lane claimed he had nothing to do with his daughter's disappearance.

However, sources told 7 Action News back in December that cadaver dogs picked up on a scent in Lane's car, on Bianca's car seat and at Lane's home

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says her office has a solid case against Lane.

"This is a case that certainly contains lot of circumstantial evidence ... which under the law is just as good as direct evidence. Some would argue even better sometimes," says Worthy.

His lawyer, Terry Johnson, says he was surprised by the charges. He also says he wants to see what evidence police and the prosecutor have.

Lane was arrested Tuesday in Oakland County on charges he violated a personal protection order. He was sentenced to 14 days in the Oakland County Jail.

He has since been transported to Wayne County.

Prosecutor Worthy announced the charges against Lane after a thorough investigation conducted by the Detroit Police, Michigan State Police, the FBI and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Criminal Investigations Division.

Detroit police originally asked for an arrest warrant against Lane in mid-December, two weeks after Bianca was reported missing by her father during a carjacking.