Early Monday in Far East El Paso, sheriff’s deputies say a 2-year-old was found walking alone through a parking lot near the 12700 block of Eastlake. The toddler was barefoot, dressed in pajamas, and was taken into protective custody. Deputies later identified the child’s 31-year-old father and charged him with abandoning or endangering a child. Authorities did not immediately release the child’s name or any additional medical details.
According to KFOX14, deputies met with the person who reported the incident, who said they found the toddler wandering in the parking lot and asking for their father. Investigators noted the child had a soiled diaper and, while checking the residence, reported smelling an alcoholic odor and finding multiple empty alcohol containers. The father was identified as 31-year-old Eric Willis, who admitted to consuming alcohol the night before, the station reported. Willis was taken to the El Paso County Detention Facility and booked with no bond on the abandoning-or-endangering charge.
What the charge means
Abandoning or endangering a child covers situations where a minor is left without reasonable care or is placed in imminent danger, and the penalties depend on the specific facts of the case. Under Texas Penal Code §22.041, as outlined by Justia, offenses can range from misdemeanors to felonies depending on whether the child was abandoned with intent to return and whether there was imminent danger. The law also imposes a duty to report suspected abuse or neglect, which is addressed in Texas Family Code §261.101, summarized by Justia.
Next steps
Willis remains in custody at the El Paso County Detention Facility, and the case will be reviewed by prosecutors, according to KFOX14. Child-protective services commonly follow law-enforcement investigations involving unattended minors. The Texas Abuse Hotline operates 24/7 at 1-800-252-5400 and online at TxAbuseHotline.org, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Anyone with information about this incident can contact local law enforcement.
