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Uptown couple allegedly left children home alone to jet off to Vegas
Chicago Sun Times ^ | 3/21/2012 | Stefano Esposito

Posted on 03/21/2012 7:48:32 PM PDT by Krankor

Shanpreta Howard and Antowain Johnson say they will “travel to the end of the world” for their kids.

But the Uptown couple are in trouble now because they allegedly don’t always like to travel with their kids.

Howard, 34, and Johnson, 36, who live in an apartment building on North Winthrop, were each charged this week with misdemeanor endangerment, after allegedly leaving their children — ages 12 and 9 — alone for two days while they took off for Las Vegas.

While the parents were away — beginning Feb. 22 — the 12-year-old boy told his teacher about the Las Vegas trip. The teacher then contacted police, who went to the apartment and found the children.

An aunt then took custody of the children until the parents returned, police said.

(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
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I love this story for several reasons. The names of the parents are great. Their picture is hilarious. And Shanpreta vehemently denies being a bad mother on her Facebook Page (Click on Wall) Click
1 posted on 03/21/2012 7:48:39 PM PDT by Krankor
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To: Krankor

I shudder to think the names they gave their kids.


2 posted on 03/21/2012 7:50:41 PM PDT by dfwgator (Don't wake up in a roadside ditch. Get rid of Romney.)
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To: Krankor

No aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, nannies or babysitters... but they can afford Vegas??


3 posted on 03/21/2012 7:51:26 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: Krankor; Morgana

Does it say anywhere if this couple is married?


4 posted on 03/21/2012 7:52:46 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: Krankor
Sis and I got left alone for a weekend, with a neighbor for emergency contact, at ages 12 and 11. We managed. I did have to fix some damage to the cabinet hinges, but it all worked out.

We're raising a generation of helpless sissies.

/johnny

5 posted on 03/21/2012 7:55:35 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: GeronL

The police gave the kids over to their Aunt.


6 posted on 03/21/2012 7:56:26 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: GeronL

I don’t know. A lot of times, though, if a black woman is married, she hyphenates her last name.


7 posted on 03/21/2012 7:57:47 PM PDT by Krankor (eenie meenie, chili beanie, the spirits are about to speak.)
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To: CaptainK

The couple should have done that before they went to Vegas.


8 posted on 03/21/2012 7:59:00 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: JRandomFreeper

12 and 10 for my brother and I. I cooked dinner often at age 10, as both of my parents worked.


9 posted on 03/21/2012 8:01:02 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: Krankor; windcliff
Did they stay at Howard Johnson's?

What are the odds?

10 posted on 03/21/2012 8:03:58 PM PDT by I Drive Too Fast
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To: Krankor

Shawnpreta Ho-Jo?


11 posted on 03/21/2012 8:05:00 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Well, in the grand scheme of things, I have a feeling the couple had someone assigned to look in on the kids. Still, this is the big city, in the 21st century, in a building I bet has some unsavory types lurking around. I just think it’s hilarious the mother is so adamant the accusations aren’t true on her Facebook page yet, if you scroll down, you can see her talking about going to Las Vegas. Plus their picture is great-she looks like she’s ready to drop another one. And their names are the coup de grace- not just the first name but the last, as well- Howard and Johnson (get it?)


12 posted on 03/21/2012 8:08:54 PM PDT by Krankor (eenie meenie, chili beanie, the spirits are about to speak.)
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To: Krankor

I’m torn. At 12 I was camping outdoors, in the woods, overnight. I stayed alone at home several times without thinking about it.

The kids seem responsible enough to go to school when the parents aren’t there, so that tells me that the kids are probably being raised at least marginally decently.

Think I’m gonna have to go with no harm no foul on this one. Though I probably would have had a neighbor check in on them a few times.


13 posted on 03/21/2012 8:12:27 PM PDT by Domandred (Fdisk, format, and reinstall the entire .gov system.)
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To: GeronL

Does it say anywhere where the couple is sane?


14 posted on 03/21/2012 8:20:21 PM PDT by Morgana (I only come here to see what happens next. It normally does.)
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To: Krankor

Shanpreta, Antowain, Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!!


15 posted on 03/21/2012 8:22:41 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Krankor
"I don’t know. A lot of times, though, if a black woman is married, she hyphenates her last name."

Of which I do not understand since her maiden name is usually her fathers last name. I never did understand this practice in the women's movement.

16 posted on 03/21/2012 8:25:18 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Grammar & spelling maybe wrong, get over it, the world will not come to an end!)
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To: Krankor

Depending on the 12yr old... They might be responsible enough to babysit the 9 yr old for a couple of days. If the kids were 9 and 6 I could see the outrage, but 12 is getting pretty close to babysitter territory. I’m not sure that the outrage is justified here.


17 posted on 03/21/2012 8:27:36 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us one chance in three. More tea anyone?)
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To: Krankor

I don’t go to Vegas, but when my kids were younger I never had qualms with leaving ANY of them in charge of younger siblings, for up to 48 hours, when they were 12.

My sister-in-law didn’t like it. One of her kids ended up a drug addict. Another ended up a rapist. My kids? I see my oldest daughter and her 4 kids every week in church. I visit my oldest son at a university where he’s the head baseball coach. My #2 son played college baseball with his brother and is planning to open a restaurant after his wife graduates med school. The #3 son is applying to Annapolis. #4 son (14 years old) is a straight A student and is starting to carve a name for himself as an athlete (wrestling). The youngest, 11 years old, I’d leave in charge of all the rest....


18 posted on 03/21/2012 8:28:26 PM PDT by freebilly (Obama Sings While America Sinks....)
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To: Domandred
The kids are smarter than the parents, I would not go to Las Vegas and I live in Henderson. Nothing but a glitzy neon money vacuum sweeper designed to take as much money as possible at the least effort.
19 posted on 03/21/2012 8:29:25 PM PDT by BooBoo1000 (I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future.,)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Sis and I got left alone for a weekend, with a neighbor for emergency contact, at ages 12 and 11. We managed.

11 yrs. old is a little more mature than 9 yrs. old, and having 'backup' available makes all the difference.

It doesn't say in the story whether or not the parents actually had someone available for contact in case of an emergency, or if there was a neighbor who was willing to stop by to check on the kids. One of the neighbors mentioned that the place they lived was safe, but accidents can also happen, and kids that young, without the benefit of of someone to call, can make a situation worse because of poor judgement.

20 posted on 03/21/2012 8:31:00 PM PDT by SuziQ
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