July 17: Casey Anthony, center, walks out of the Orange County Jail with her attorney Jose Baez, left, during her release in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday. (AP)
Casey Anthony reported for probation in Florida Wednesday, according to her lead defense counsel Jose Baez.
Anthony will serve probation "somewhere in the state of Florida," though the exact location of her probation office is being kept secret over concerns for her safety.
"She reported," Attorney Jose Baez told Fox News. "She told the officer she understands the conditions of her probation and she was told the date for her next appearance."
Florida authorities said Thursday that Anthony was polite and cooperative during a meeting with her probation officer and pledged to meet the conditions of her one-year probation for check fraud.
Judge Belvin Perry ruled earlier in August that Anthony had until Aug. 26 to return to Florida to serve 12 months' probation for a check-fraud conviction, upholding a sentence by Judge Stan Strickland.
Anthony's attorneys argued she already had completed it while in jail awaiting her murder trial. The Fifth District Court of Appeals disagreed with the argument that enforcing the probation order would violate the constitutional prohibition on double jeopardy.
Stickland said in January 2010 that Anthony should serve probation after her release from jail. She pleaded guilty to stealing checks from a friend. His instructions never made it into a written order and corrections officials interpreted the sentence to mean Anthony could serve the probation while she was in jail.
In an order this month, Strickland clarified that Anthony must begin her probation now that she is out of jail. He then recused himself from the case and turned it over to Judge Belvin Perry, who presided over Anthony's murder trial. Perry upheld Strickland's order and Anthony's attorneys appealed last week to the Fifth District Court of appeals in Daytona Beach. The appeals court denied a request that would have stopped her from being forced to start probation by the end of the week.
Anthony showed up at a state probation office Wednesday night, Plessinger said the probation officer went over a list of conditions Anthony must follow.
By the conditions of her probation, Anthony must physically report to her probation officer no later than the fifth day of each month, and can not change her residence or job without permission. She can not drink in excess, break any laws, can not carry or possess a gun without permission and must "work diligently" at a lawful occupation.
Due to security concerns, Anthony has been granted a waiver stating she will not have to obtain employment. Instead, she must attend school, which "will be online," according to Baez.
The 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge in a trial that made headlines globally, claiming a babysitter kidnapped her toddler. After she was acquitted, she was released from jail and dropped from public sight.
Citing death threats, state officials said they will not reveal her location, including the county where she will serve her probation.
The Associated Press and Newscore and contributed to this report.
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