We have repeatedly dealt with stories of parents who leave their children in cars while they gamble or party (here) or even commit criminal acts(here). This week, another such arrest was made near our school but this one involves clearly affluent parents who left their two toddlers — a 22-month-old boy and a slightly older girl — in a gray Volvo wagon while they went to a wine tasting at the upscale restaurant Ris. I hope the wine bouquet was satisfying because “the finish” was rough. They were both arrested and now face two counts of attempted second-degree cruelty to children, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
Christopher (“Christophe”) Daniel Lucas told police that he left an iPhone in the car with an open connection to the children’s mother, Jennie Teresa Chang. However, police say that the girl was crying hysterically and that the temperature was 35 degrees in a car that was turned off with no heat.
The car was left around a corner from the restaurant and around 400 feet from the door in a major traffic area. The manager said that the couple had been wine tasting for about an hour when police arrived.
Lucas, 41, and Chang, 46, own a $1 million rowhouse near Dupont Circle. They actually live 10 minutes from the restaurant and insisted that they were going out to check on the kids.
The court released the couple but they are being denied access to their children.
Notably, Washington seems to be on a theme regarding parenting and the criminal code. We just discussed a question of whether parents should be charged for allowing their children to walk home alone.
The question is what should the punishment be in such a case. Incarceration or a permanent loss of the children seem unduly harsh even though their actions were clearly outrageous and dangerous. However, forcing the children into foster homes would not necessarily be in their best interests if there are no other indications of endangerment or any abuse. That would leave probation and forced counseling or classes. That might seem too light for some people or the court.
What do you think?
Source: FOX DC
I am secure enough to admit I know nothing about wine tasting, having never been to one. So, I’ll back off the alcoholic diagnosis a bit. I’m still not convinced it is not a problem. They are definitely narcissists and almost certainly Dems. I bought 2 Volvo’s for the women ion my life because they’re safe and neither are good drivers. Although, my daughter has gotten better after totaling 2 vehicles early in her driving career. When you drive Volvos most everyone assumes you’re a Dem. Maybe meapo will jump in and tell me Volvos are conservatives cars. But, he would ne wrong.
my first pediatrician, with my first child, asked me what I thought was the most important thing I needed to do/give to my baby- I responded “well, of course, love my baby”, he replied ,” the most important thing is keeping your baby safe”.
Babies, toddlers are totally dependent on parents, to use their good judgement to keep them safe. These parents failed in using good judgement and fortunately, it seems , no physical harm came to the toddlers.
Are not YET suffering from hypothermia. Should police only intervene when the kids are laying there limp? The possibility for harm was there, not just from hypothermia, but from some nut smashing in the window and snatching them.
Paul-
Good point. Since the children weren’t properly vivisected at the scene to determine core temp, I don’t see any way charges can realistically be brought.
Anarchist 2.0 – According to the Mayo Clinic website, the entire core temp has to lower to about 35 degrees for hypothermia to set in. If the kids are crying, yelling, screaming and wriggling in the car seats, they are not suffering from hypothermia.
Inga – the major question is how warm was their body core? If the body core was properly dressed then I have less concern.
35 is more than cold enough to become hypothermic.
To the person who thinks 35 is not that cold. One of the children had no socks or shoes on. They wer strapped in car seats and could not even move around to try to get warmer. Very hard to understand parents like these.
Lindalee – now the question is: Did they start with no socks and shoes or did they kick them off? Kids are notorious for kicking off their shoes and socks. Ask any parent.
Anarchist 2.0 – as long as you have them properly strapped into the child seats I see no problem. I am assuming you bring them back sodas and hotdogs from the bar. They need to be fed.
I leave my kids alone in my car all the time when I go to bars. First, they are old enough to be responsible (9 and 18 months), and second, I’m a lightweight, so I’m wasted and back behind the wheel in no time.
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Paul, by today´s standards both of our parents would have done jail time and we have been raised in foster homes!
Riesling – besides doing time in juvie ourselves. However, I had a grandmother who lived close who could have taken over, but she was a push-over.
I remember going out to the car to play “driving” wiith my sister while my mom was getting her hair done. I think I was in kindergarden and my sister was in nursery school…….
Riesling – when I was 4 and my brother 3 we teamed up (probably the last time ever) to drive the company truck down the street. I stood on the bench seat and steered while he sat on the floor and pushed the gas pedal. Those were the days of the push starter. 🙂
Second what Paul and others have said about the wine tasting. You get a sip or maybe two of the wines you want to taste. Followed by a nibble of cracker so that you ‘clear your palate’ for the next tasting. The purpose of the event….other than to schmooze with the snobbery elites…..is to determine which of the wines you want to order. You can hardly get drunk at a wine tasting event unless you really really try and everyone would certainly notice your poor manners.
Drinking is not the reason for a wine tasting event.
Nick – you’re right. If a couple thinks it’s appropriate to leave their toddler kids in the car alone at night in freezing temperatures to drink, they might be an alcoholic. Possibly alcoholic, definitely self absorbed.
Isaac – I agree that we should not raise our kids to be self-centered through catering to their every whim. At the same time, they come first in our hearts. Our lives change when we have kids, and that’s OK. They should have had a date night out with a babysitter.
Karen – wine tastings are for sippers, not two-fisted drinkers. For an alcoholic, they would need more booze out in the car to get through a wine tasting.
I would sentence them to watching The Vagina Monologues, the transgendered version, every night for one month.
Well, of course they didn’t leave the car on with the heater running. Their car could get stolen. And I’ll bet they didn’t leave their purse on the front seat, although they did leave an iPhone. It was probably insured.
People who leave their children in unattended cars, with them out of sight, are the same ones who likely would never dream of leaving their purse on the front seat.
And how lovely that they stopped off to drink alcohol before driving home. Did they both drink?
I agree that the foster care system is so broken that these kids would be worse off. The parents made a stupid mistake and need a good scolding and some classes.
“This is not a criminal matter in my view. There are times when a good scolding by a police officer is enough to get the message across.”
Haha yes because that will teach them! If it deals with property it’s likely criminal, human rights? Well it all depends on the group I’m a member of…..
Er …right??
At least you lived to tell the tale!
Isaac, I was wondering who would recognize it.
Pogo – I have a true septic tank story but it takes too long to tell. 😉