The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Pennsylvania man was reportedly charged after the authorities said his 7-year-old son called 911 when he was left alone in a vehicle outside a convenience store for more than an hour.
The incident reportedly happened at a convenience store in Lancaster County. According to the authorities, the child contacted emergency dispatchers and said his father had been gone for a long period of time. Officers were sent to the store at about 5:15 p.m. after receiving the report about an unattended child inside a parked vehicle.
When officers arrived, they reportedly found both the child and the man still at the business. Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage from the store, which allegedly showed the man spending more than an hour using gambling-style skill machines inside the business while the boy remained outside alone in the vehicle.
The authorities said the video showed the man entering the store at approximately 4:24 p.m. and staying inside for about 63 minutes before leaving at around 5:27 p.m. The gaming machines were reportedly located inside the convenience store and operated similarly to slot machines commonly found in Pennsylvania businesses such as gas stations, bars, and smoke shops.
During the investigation, the man allegedly told officers he had been delayed because he was dealing with a restroom maintenance issue inside the business. However, investigators said the surveillance footage did not support that explanation.
After reviewing the evidence, the authorities formally charged the 39-year-old man with one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child. The charge was filed several days after the incident occurred.
Court records reportedly showed the man later appeared before a district judge and was released on $5,000 unsecured bail while the case moves through the court system.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a child abuse offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.