Posted on 08/29/2007 4:32:23 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
MERCEDES — Two young children left alone at home while their father went out for a tattoo remained in state custody late Monday, police said.
A neighbor spotted a 3-year-old boy wandering around the La Herencia Apartments just before 10 a.m. Monday, Mercedes Police Chief Olga Maldonado said.
As the neighbor stopped to talk to him, she heard crying coming from inside his apartment home, blocks from the Mid-Valley Golf Club.
Officers found a 1-year-old girl, barefoot and wearing soiled diapers inside. It appeared as if both children had been left alone for at least several hours, investigators said.
Police arrested their father, Samuel Garcia, of Mercedes, after he returned to the home a few minutes later.
Garcia later told investigators that he had only left the children for a short time while he went to discuss the new tattoo with a friend, Maldonado said.
The chief declined comment on the children’s physical health or the state of the home, referring all questions to Child Protective Services.
“We were friendly with (the children),” Maldonado said.
“We bought them breakfast and took them back to the station until CPS showed up.”
An agency spokesman, who said he could not release specific information about the case, said case workers typically look for extended family members willing to take custody of the children.
At Garcia’s arraignment on child abandonment charges Monday evening, Municipal Court Judge Jesse Contreras chided the young father for his alleged irresponsibility and urged police to also arrest the children’s mother on child endangerment charges.
It wasn’t immediately clear if any charges were planned against the mother, but investigators were looking into the possibility.
“These kids are our future,” Contreras said. “Your kids could be senators, doctors, lawyers or teachers. You’ve got to snap out of this stupidity you’re going through.
With his hands cuffed behind him and his head hung low, Garcia responded “I know sir. I need help.”
He told the judge that he had previously been arrested for abusing his wife and was set to face human smuggling charges in federal court, but those charges could not be confirmed as of Wednesday evening.
Garcia remained in the Hidalgo County jail on a $200,000 bond.
If convicted, he could face up to two years in a state jail and a fine of up to $10,000. ____ Jeremy Roebuck covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.
The Monitor August 29, 2007 - 5:22PM
Amy Gonzalez, 19, of Mercedes, told officers that she had left for work Monday morning assuming that the children’s father, Samuel Garcia, would be watching the children.
At Gonzalez’s arraignment Wednesday, her mother defended her actions, saying that Gonzalez had to work to support the family because Garcia did not have a job.
Is this in Texas or Mexico? It sounds translated?
ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Rio Grande Valle.
Is this in Texas or Mexico? It sounds translated?
I agree this is a poorly written piece as an example:
As the neighbor stopped to talk to him, she heard crying coming from inside his apartment home, blocks from the Mid-Valley Golf Club. ......
What in the world does the Mid-Valley Golf Club have to do with the children being left alone in an apartment?
The dirtbag can’t hold down a job, but can afford a tattoo?
You'd think I would know about that, LOL.
It sounds like the mom left for work without waiting for the dad to get home.
I just don't get it. You can't take your eyes off a 1-year-old unless he's in a playpen. I can't imagine walking out the door.
It sounds like the mom left for work without waiting for the dad to get home.
&&&
Sounds like mom doesn’t seem to be married to dad either. Lord help our children! The garbage that they are exposed to today!
You’d think I would know about that, LOL.
The Mother is 19 and has a 3 year old? Welcome to Texas - land of the 15 year old knocked up schoolgirls!
I saw no Smiths or Jones; come to think of it, I never do anmore.
It's all about priorities. And besides, he has a young mamacita to work, draw welfare and bring on some more jackpot babies. These guys don't need to work. Though he did say he had been a human smuggler.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.