E.C. MOM ALLEGEDLY LEAVES 12 YR. OLD DAUGHTER IN CHARGE OF KIDS
Friday, February 15th, 2008 -- 11:41 AM
An Eau Claire mother is accused of leaving her 12-year-old daughter to care for the woman's other children, ages seven months and two years, for two days.Jennifer Hewitt faces seven criminal charges, including three counts of child abandonment.
A criminal complaint says a social worker who went to check on the family Feb. 6, found the oldest child trying to care for her younger siblings. The girl didn't know where to reach her mother or who to contact in an emergency. There was no phone in the apartment.
The girl told authorities that she had stayed home from school to care for her siblings.
Police say Hewitt stopped at the apartment briefly Feb. 5 before leaving again.
Hewitt is free on a $500 signature bond and returns to court March 24.
The two younger children were taken into protective custody. The oldest child was turned over to her father.
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