A woman in Plantation was arrested by the police on Wednesday for allegedly leaving her three children alone at home while she went to work.
The authorities pressed charges against Linda St. Leger, a 36-year-old woman, for three counts of child neglect.
On Thursday, St. Leger appeared in court for the first time. Her attorney defended the woman’s actions.
According to her attorney, a single mother received an emergency call from her employer demanding her presence at work, threatening job loss if she didn’t comply. Being the sole provider for her family, the mother struggled to keep up with rent and water payments.
According to the prosecution, the safety of her children was at risk. Eric Linder expressed his understanding of why the parent wasn’t present but emphasized that the safety of the children is still a priority, regardless of the parent’s intentions.
According to her attorney, the mother made a poor choice.
According to the attorney, the woman’s actions were understandable. She wasn’t seeking leisure or entertainment; rather, she was striving to support her family and avoid the possibility of homelessness for her children.
Plantation Police reported that while Leger was at work at a Wawa, she left her 10-year-old daughter, 8-year-old son, and 2-year-old son at home.
According to the police report, a 10-year-old girl revealed that her mother works the night shift from Sunday to Wednesday, leaving her to take care of her younger siblings. The girl shared that she takes on the responsibility of changing diapers and feeding her siblings during her mother’s absence.
After spotting a 2-year-old wandering around the neighborhood with a dog while the child’s mother was at work late on Tuesday night, a concerned person called 911.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered three unaccompanied children. According to the police, the 2-year-old child was located a quarter mile away from their residence and was wearing a soiled diaper.
The police report stated that the officers observed the presence of dog feces and urine on the floor of the house, absence of any edible food, and a temperature of 91 degrees inside the premises.
When authorities contacted St. Leger at her workplace, she claimed that she had to leave due to a work emergency. However, she was taken into custody, and her children were taken away from her care.
The bond for St. Leger was set at $15,000 by the judge.
Broward County Circuit Court Judge Michele Mccaul Ricca stated, “I will be setting a bond of $5,000 for each count and ordering no victim contact times three until further order of the court.”
Currently, St. Leger is still being held at the Broward County jail, while the children are residing with their father.
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