A mother in Georgia may be going to prison for allowing her 14-year-old daughter to babysit her 4 year-old-brother.
In May 2020, because of a COVID-19 shutdown, Melissa Henderson stated that her son Thaddeus’s daycare was closed. However, she still had to work.
“There were no options, literally. So I asked my almost 15-year-old to watch over her younger sibling…,” Henderson stated.
As Linley, Henderson’s daughter, was doing assignments for school, Thaddeus left out of the home to play. A neighbor observed the little boy, who was outside for about 15 minutes, and contacted authorities. Police responded and took a report.
Two weeks after that, officials went to Henderson’s home again, placed handcuffs on her, and charged her with criminal reckless conduct.
“It was the most embarrassing and humiliating day, honestly, of my life,” Henderson said.
If found guilty, she could receive one year in jail and be forced to pay a $1,000 fine. The police report noted that the 4-year-old could’ve been “kidnapped, run over, or bitten by a poisonous snake.”
When deciding if 14-years-old is too young to babysit, it is a fact that the Red Cross offers babysitting classes for kids as young as 11-years-old.
“Thirteen years old and older can be left alone and take care of others for up to 12 hours,” stated attorney David DeLugas.
As a good neighbor with all that free time on your hand, she should had offered to watch the boy instead of calling the Authorities!! Dam criminals..