Bristol, CT, woman left children alone for most of weekend

[left-of-center2012]

Kaylee West, 28, of Bristol, CT, was arrested on Sunday, April 8, after someone phoned an anonymous tip to police that West’s two children had been left unsupervised, police said. Officers went to the home around 6:30 p.m. and found a 6-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy home alone. They had been left there since the morning of the previous day, according to police. Neither of the children was hurt.

Officers contacted West and had her come home. It is unclear whether she told police where she had been. West was charged with risk of injury to a minor and freed on $5,000 bond. A relative picked up the children. The state Department of Children and Families was notified by police about the arrest.

During a hearing Wednesday in Bristol Superior Court,
West filed an application for accelerated rehabilitation, a first-time offender program that would spare her prosecution. She is due back in court on Oct. 10, when she will learn if a judge feels the program would be an appropriate resolution to the case.

Should accelerated rehabilitation be granted and West complete the program, the charge against her would be dropped, as if she had been found not guilty after a trial. She could be on a form of pretrial probation for up to two years, during which time she would be required to avoid any new arrests and complete any other conditions a judge feels are necessary.

http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-Bristol+News/335577/police-say-bristol-woman-left-children-alone-for-most-of-weekend

[WhiteTara]

1. When I was growing up we were latch key kids

and once my parents went on a 2 week vacation and left me and my younger sisters home to fend for ourselves. I couldn't drive at the time, so it was an interesting time. We lived about 20 miles out in the country and had 2 watch dogs who would have killed for us, but we were still alone.

[left-of-center2012]

2. How old were all of you?

[WhiteTara]

3. I was 15 and my youngest sister was 5

[left-of-center2012]

4. 15 should be old enough ...

15 should be old enough to stay home and supervise younger siblings, imho.

[WhiteTara]

5. My parents did too.

I'm not complaining or saying that we shouldn't have been left alone; but things sure have changed.