Thirty-three-year-old Phoenix mother, Sandra Holguin, faces child abuse charges after she allegedly left her young daughter in a hot car for almost an hour while she shopped at a Kmart in Tolleson, reports The Arizona Republic.
According to Tolleson police spokesman, Sergeant Obed Gaytan, several Good Samaritans tried to free the two-year-old girl from the vehicle before police arrived Friday night. The high temperature that day was reported at 106 degrees.
Police were able to remove the girl and placed her inside an air-conditioned patrol car to cool her off. Tolleson Fire Department paramedics also gave her medical attention and water.
Holguin was arrested on suspicion of child abuse after she returned from her shopping excursion, and the child was released to her grandmother, authorities told The Republic.
Holguin is not the first Valley mother to be arrested for child abuse for leaving their children in such a potentially dangerous situation, and parents should be aware of the consequences of leaving their children in the car, no matter how long they think they will take in the store or on their errand.
State child abuse laws typically include any act that results in imminent risk or serious harm to a child's health and welfare. Although most states require non-accidental means, this includes actions that were careless and/or acts of negligence. Leaving a child in a hot car for a period of time could constitute negligence if the child was put at serious risk or harm.
Sandra Holguin may not have meant to harm her daughter, but her careless actions have led to the possibility of child abuse charges, an accusation few mothers would want to bear.
Related Resources:
- Find a Phoenix Family Law Attorney (FindLaw)
- Tolleson Police: Mom Left 2-Year-Old in Parked Car (My Fox Phoenix)
- Child Abuse Laws State-by-State (FindLaw)
- Child Abuse Overview (FindLaw)
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