The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A former NFL player started a GoFundMe to garner support for the father of three youngsters in Georgia who was arrested after reportedly leaving his children by themselves at McDonald’s while he went to a job interview nearby.
On the afternoon of March 22, a 24-year-old father of children ages 10, 6, and 1 took the kids to a McDonald’s with a playground near their Augusta residence. Since the family is carless, they walked to the restaurant. According to reports, around 4:30 PM, the man walked out of the establishment without the youngsters. Shortly after, he came back but then took off a second time. Someone became concerned after seeing him leave the kids alone, and the authorities were notified.
The police were already at the restaurant when the man returned around 6:15 PM. When asked about the situation, he explained that he only left the children because he needed to attend a job interview nearby. He was arrested on suspicion of deprivation of a minor and booked into the Richmond County Jail. Online facility records indicate that the man is no longer in custody.
When former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown learned about the story, he sided with the suspect and said, “A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his family.” He started a GoFundMe to help the family and has successfully raised almost $50,000 so far.
In another show of support, the Grantor/Trustee of the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust announced that “The American Freedmen Legal Fund is taking a stand. No man—Verified or Unverified—should be punished for trying to provide for his family under pressure.” Additionally, he sent the district attorney an email and a certified letter asking that they dismiss the charges.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.