Charges dropped against Nassia Eugie for wandering child. Your thoughts?

[SoUncool]

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/...25/1006/news01



Charges dropped against mother of wandering child
4-year-old son was seen walking at Palm Bay intersection in Sept.

Prosecutors won't pursue neglect charges against a Palm Bay woman whose 4-year-old son they say wandered away from a teenage sibling's care while their mother was away job hunting.

Nassia Eugie, 34, had faced up to five years in prison if convicted on one third-degree felony count of child neglect in connection with the Sept. 22 incident.

Police arrested Eugie, of 1043 Albion St., after they say a driver spotted 4-year-old Jayden around 8:45 a.m. wandering barefoot and alone near Jupiter Boulevard and Emerson Drive. Eugie called to report the child missing six hours later, authorities said.

Julia Lynch, chief of the state attorney's office sex crimes and child abuse division, said Eugie was engaging in a "worthwhile" activity and did not seem to be "willfully" trying to neglect her child.

Eugie told police she had been in Orlando all day on a job interview and had left the boy in the care of his 14-year-old brother. Apparently, the brother fell asleep, and the 4-year-old slipped out of their home.

"The charges did not seem justified in this case based on the fact that she was out seeking a job, and to leave the child with a 14-year-old is not unreasonable," Lynch said. "A 14-year-old is old enough to baby-sit."

The children and two other siblings remain in the care of a relative and under Department of Children and Families supervision, officials said. DCF has had past dealings with Eugie, spokeswoman Carrie Hoeppner said.

"As the investigation has continued, other things have been taken into consideration," said Hoeppner. "Ultimately it just comes down to what's best for the kids."

Eugie will be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 25 in Viera on allegations that the September arrest violated her probation on a 2007 grand theft conviction, court records show.

She is being held at the Brevard County Detention Center on $10,000 bond, officials said.

[witzah]

i agree this case may not be felony material - IF she was really out job hunting & IF she really left her 14 yo in charge. but the fact is that she's responsible for her 4 yo & he was endangered. depending on the facts surrounding the 14 yo (was he a decent kid & this was unexpected or should mom have known better?) we may still see her facing misdeameanor charges. (there are usually 2 different offices, 1 handling felonies & 1 misdemeanors. misdemeanor charges arent filed on a case thats got active felony charges on same case, so it has to be dismissed & sent to the other office to review & make a misdemeanor charging decision)

[RockRGrl]

I can understand why the charges are being dropped. A 14-year old is old enough to babysit, although if he was sleeping and not babysitting, I don't think I'd be leaving the 4-year with him any longer.

[lilbay]

A 14 year old is old enough to legally watch a sibling.

The fact that this woman was out trying to locate work to try and support herself and her kids hen this happened I do not see the sense in bringing charges against her and adding to a likely already stressful time.
I mean consider it from her shoes.
She has kids She needs to find a job. Unless you HAVE a Job already You can NOT get a POC voucher at least that is how things work here in MD So you need to have a way to provide care for a kid in order to get a job in order to have child care help.
This 14 year old needs his ass whipped for not doing what was asked of him for those couple hours come on at 14 you know Mom is having it hard you should be more than willing to offer a few hours care for your little brother while she gets a job.
My oldest was able to keep a eye on his brother at the age of 13 for a couple hours here and there.
The one thing that does bother me is they said that this woman has had dealings with CPS in the past. I wish I knew what that was regarding. Was it something serious like they were unattended long periods or something that was in connection to lack of working like someone called in that they were not fed or clothed or clean.
Those three things can all relate to lack of money and job and i wonder if in fact their last dealings are what resulted in her attempting to locate a job and therefore left the child with the brother.
All in all though I do not think she should be charged. She was trying to make ends meet and make things right in a tough time.

[Silvahalo]

I agree a 14 yr. old is old enough and depending on the individual, hopefully mature enough to handle baby sitting a 4 yr. old.

If indeed it is FACT that she was looking for work and there is not a history of neglect by the mother, I agree with dropping the felony charges.

However, she is the mother and ultimately responsible for the well being of her children. The 14 yr. old failed to be responsible but he is still a child himself which brings me to the belief that checking in on both children ever couple of hours at least would have been the prudent thing to do. She didn't report the child missing until 6 hrs. later. Clearly she wasn't checking in on her children frequently.

I think as a mother I see her as trying to do the right thing and I feel for her on that account...it appears she is a single mother, (not sure). Still I think she was a bit neglectful...I wouldn't be entirely against misdemeanor charges.

[DeziDoo]

I can understand why the charges are being dropped. A 14-year old is old enough to babysit, although if he was sleeping and not babysitting, I don't think I'd be leaving the 4-year with him any longer.

I agree. I felt kind of bad for her when I heard about this (I live in FL). I mean, she WAS out looking for a job and I was certainly babysitting when I was 14 and even younger than that.

[Peeperann]

I agree the charges should be dropped. Hell I was babysitting when I was 12 for all my parents friends. But her 14 year old doesn't sound very responsible, so she shouldn't leave the little one with him again.

And i'm sure that DFS checked out job story, at least I hope they did. So I have no problem with this.

Although the previous DFS problems worry me a little. I wonder what they were for.........