A judge deciding whether Casey Anthony should serve probation for check fraud has ended a hearing without a ruling.

Judge Belvin Perry described the case today as a “mess” before saying he needs more time to research whether Anthony should return to Orlando to report to a probation office. Anthony disappeared from the public eye after she was acquitted last month in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

She was sentenced in January 2010 to probation after pleading guilty to using checks stolen from a friend. Corrections officials interpreted the sentence to mean Anthony could serve the probation while she was in jail awaiting trial, but the judge in that case said last week he intended the probation to be served after her release.

-Staff Reports