Mindy McCready 7 Months Pregnant with Twins, Says She'll Go to Jail to Save Her Son from Abuse

As the clock ticks on country singer Mindy McCready's 5:00 p.m. EST deadline to return her 5-year-old son Zander to Florida courts in the midst of a bitter custody battle, the plot has considerably thickened.

The singer said last night that she is 7 months pregnant, and unable to return to Florida with her child. She also said she's willing to go to jail to protect her son from abuse.

McCready took her son away from the home of her mother, Gayle Inge, alleging the child was being abused. Inge was awarded guardianship of the child in 2007, after a scuffle with her mother resulted in an arrest.

McCready and her mother have been embroiled in a complicated custody battle in the 4 years since, during which McReady underwent a high-profile battle with addiction and attempted suicide.

Regardless of the circumstances, a Florida judge ruled that the child must be returned to court Thursday evening by 5:00 p.m., or McCready is in danger of being served an arrest warrant.

McCready's response? She can't possibly travel back to Florida because she is 7 months pregnant with twins. According to the AP, "the father of her twins is a music producer named David who is supportive of her quest to regain custody of Zander."

Whether or not that satisfies the court (we're guesing not), McCready is ready to do time if needed.

"I'm a mom first," McCready told the AP from her home in Nashville, Tenn. "No matter what happens, I'm going to protect my kid. If I have to go to jail, so be it."

The AP reported that 5-year-old Zander, who authorities have confirmed is safe and sound, could be heard in the background giggling during the interview.

Do you think Mindy McCready should go to jail? What about the 5-year-old Zander? Should he be with his mother, grandmother, or some other responsible parental figure?