A Logan Township woman is in custody after police say she backed into a car seat holding her 1-year-old child in a motel parking lot on Wednesday, then drove away. Officers later tracked her down at a nearby Sam’s Club, where she was arrested. The child was removed from the scene, and the woman was taken to the county jail to await arraignment, according to police.
According to the Newport Dispatch, Logan Township officers responded to the Horseshoe Curve Lodge at about 2906 Pleasant Valley Boulevard after a motel employee reported that a child had been left unattended in the parking lot. The outlet identifies the suspect as Kassandra Perry and reports that surveillance footage showed Perry remove the child from a vehicle, place the car seat on the ground, then back her vehicle into the seat before leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. Police later arrested Perry at the Sam’s Club, alleging she appeared to be under the influence, and said she was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and driving under the influence. She was taken to Blair County Prison to await arraignment, the outlet reports.
What police say
Investigators told reporters they reviewed surveillance footage from the motel after staff discovered the child’s car seat unattended in the lot. A staff member then alerted the child’s father, according to the report. Officers say they later located Perry at the nearby retailer, where she appeared to be under the influence when contacted, according to Newport Dispatch. The report does not provide additional detail on the child’s condition.
Possible penalties under state law
Under the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304 addresses endangering the welfare of children and is generally classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, but it can be elevated to a felony if the conduct involves a course of conduct or creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. For felonies, 18 Pa.C.S. § 1103 sets sentencing limits, including a maximum of up to 10 years for a second-degree felony, per the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
What comes next
Perry remains in Blair County Prison awaiting arraignment. A magisterial hearing and any formal charges will move through the county court system. Local prosecutors are expected to review the surveillance footage and police reports as they decide whether to pursue any additional charges.
