A Largo man faces criminal charges after leaving two toddlers alone in the car while he visited a strip club. Police arrested the defendant, 33-year old Kenneth J. Summers, on two felony charges of child neglect. The incident occurred at 11:00 p.m. this week at the Oz Gentleman Club on U.S. 19.
Police were contacted after witnesses reported the 3-year old and 4-year old children alone in the car for 20 to 40 minutes. The relationship between the children and the defendant has not been released. Summers as not posted the $10,000 bond and remains in the Pinellas County Jail.
Florida Statute 827.03 defines the crime of child neglect as the failure to provide a child with care and supervision in a good faith effort to maintain their physical and mental health. If an injury to the child resulted from the negligence, the State of Florida considers this crime a second degree felony and punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Otherwise, if no injury occurred towards the child due to the negligent adult, the offender faces a third degree felony. A third degree felony is punishable by up to 5 years in Florida State prison.
Charges of child neglect are a serious criminal matter that will not be taken lightly by the Court. A convicted offender faces a possible sentence of prison time, court monitored probation, community service, mandatory rehabilitation or counseling programs and heavy fines and court costs. The personal cost of a child neglect conviction is severe. The strain within the family and issues with friends, loss of employment and the possibility of losing the custody of children in the home could rip loved ones apart.
You need a knowledgeable felony lawyer to address the case against you. My firm has over 100 years of combined legal experience and I have handled numerous cases involving child victims. The end result of neglect charges does not have to be prison time. Your case is not just a number, it is personal. Contact Musca Law to help get your life back on track.
