The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A New Mexico father is accused of leaving his 20-month-old twin sons locked inside a hot vehicle for more than two hours while he went dancing at a nightclub.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Albuquerque police responded to the Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday after a security guard found two young children alone in the back seat of a vehicle.
The children were sweating, and security guards broke the driver’s side window before officers arrived to get them out of the vehicle.
Police said the twins were strapped into car seats, though the seats were not secured to the vehicle. The windows were rolled up, and officers described the children as drenched in sweat and extremely lethargic.
According to police, the children initially appeared to be unconscious but were breathing. They reportedly began to regain consciousness after officers removed them from their car seats.
Two men approached while officers were tending to the children and said the vehicle belonged to them. One man identified himself as the boys’ father.
According to the affidavit, the father told investigators he had gone inside the nightclub because he wanted time for himself. He said he tried to find someone to watch the children but was unable to make arrangements.
Police said he then drove to the nightclub with the twins still in the vehicle.
The father reportedly told officers he did not intend to stay long but said he could not leave because people were dancing with him.
Records showed he entered the nightclub at approximately 10:54 p.m. Police received the call about the children at about 1:33 a.m., meaning the twins had been left alone for roughly 2½ hours.
Police also arrested another man who was allegedly aware the children had been left in the vehicle while the adults were inside the bar. Prosecutors later dropped the charges against him while the investigation continued.
The father was charged with two counts each of child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm, child abandonment not resulting in great bodily harm, and open child abuse. He was being held without bond.
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.