In Georgia, a mother of five is now facing jail time for an innocent act many parents have been “guilty” of from time to time.
Melissa Henderson had a dilemma, the single mom really needed to get to work, but Thaddeus, her youngest son, could not go to daycare because the business was closed due to COVID-19.
After trying to find another sitter, Melissa finally asked her oldest child, who was 14 going on 15, to watch her little brother while she went to work.
The teen was doing her homework when her 4-year-old brother found his way outside.
He began playing outdoors for about 15 minutes before the teen discovered he was outside and brought him back in.
However, she didn’t realize that during the time her brother was outside, a concerned neighbor called 911 to report the child was outside unattended.
Of course, many of us remember a day and age when neighbors would go out and investigate such occurrences instead of calling the police.
Then two weeks later, police returned to Melissa’s home to arrest her. The mom was charged with criminal reckless conduct.
In the police report, the officer outlines some of the possible things that could have happened to the unattended child, such as him being run over by a car, kidnapped, or bitten by a snake.
Many folks believe this prosecution is a severe overreaction. However, if Melissa’s convicted, she could face one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Incidentally, the American Red Cross offers babysitting classes for children as young as 11 years old.
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