The mother of a 1-year-old is facing a slew of charges after the authorities allegedly discovered her baby alone in a running vehicle while the woman reportedly took shots of liquor in a nightclub.
On Sunday, just before 2:00 am, 26-year-old Samantha Grace Vaughan reportedly placed her daughter in an infant car seat and drove to a nightclub where her husband was waiting for a ride.
When Vaughan arrived at her destination, the TrackSide Night Club in Copper Cove, she reportedly left her sleeping daughter in the vehicle with the keys in the ignition and the engine running while she went inside the establishment.
While Vaughan was still in the bar, someone notified the authorities about the infant inside the car and officers were sent to the location.
When they arrived at the nightclub the officers noted that they found the child was sleeping safely in the car, but she was by herself and the vehicle was allegedly left running.
In an effort to locate the responsible party an officer went inside the club and eventually encountered the child’s mom. When asked why she was there while the baby was in the car, Vaughan allegedly explained that she was retrieving her husband and she had stepped inside to use the bathroom.
The officer reportedly informed Vaughan that she smelled like alcohol and asked if she had been drinking that evening. Vaughan allegedly said she had taken two quick shots while she waited for her husband.
The police reported that Vaughan became uncooperative during their interaction to the extent that they deemed it was necessary to place her in handcuffs. They informed her that she was being arrested, and it was recorded in the police report that Vaughan continued to resist, in addition to allegedly yelling racial slurs.
The infant was placed into her father’s custody, while Vaughan was put in the back of the police vehicle.
She allegedly continued to behave in a non-compliant manner while in route to the station and it was reported that Vaughan made several comments that were taken as threats against the officer and the officer’s children.
Vaughan is facing charges for suspicion of abandoning/endangering a child with intent to return, resisting arrest, and making a terroristic threat against a public servant.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.