Posted on 08/31/2007 8:47:07 AM PDT by Kimmers
Lafayette - A woman is in jail for allegedly allowing her five-year-old child to drive a car. Neighbors were able to prevent the situation from turning into a tragedy over the weekend.
The car speeding around the corner near Wendy Barrett's Lafayette home, its tires screeching, wasn't driven by someone running late before it made a abrupt stop near her driveway.
"I saw a toddler at the wheel and another toddler on the console. I said, 'Ma'am, are you letting your toddler drive?' She said, 'Yes. He's a good driver,'" said Barrett.
Holly Schnobrich, 24, of Lafayette was also a passenger in the car. She's now in jail, charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and one count of public intoxication. She is the mother of the five-year-old boy driving the car. Her three-year-old was also in the car.
"He was on his knees saying he was driving mommy's car and having trouble reaching the pedal," said Barrett.
Barrett and her neighbors quickly grabbed the keys and pulled the children from the car before calling 911. They say Schnobrich was visibly impaired and asked for the keys so she could drive away with the children.
According to a police report, the woman's speech was slurred and she failed all field sobriety tests. She also allegedly told deputies that she'd taken Percocet, a prescription painkiller for "when the kids are acting wild."
Prosecutors and witnesses believe this isn't the first time Schnobrich has let the five-year-old drive. Her arrest comes just four days into probation after pleading guilty to DUI. Officers also allegedly found a large bottle of over- the-counter sleeping pills recently purchased and nearly consumed.
"These children were placed in great danger by the person who legally should be providing the care and protection of them," said Patrick Harrington, Tippecanoe County prosecutor.
Police say Schnobrich endangered her children and anyone on the road near their car Saturday night. The children were safely taken by the Department of Child Services.
Police also say Schnobrich also was the only one in the car wearing a seatbelt.
You can tell right off the bat that this Lafayette was east of the Mississippi river. Station call letters to the east begin with “W”, to the west, “K”.
This assumes, of course, that only local news is being reported in the article.
When my guys reached the age of responsibility, I told them not to bother asking me to bail them out unless they REALLY didn't do it! So I can relate to him.
“Barrett and her neighbors quickly grabbed the keys and pulled the children from the car before calling 911. They say Schnobrich was visibly impaired and asked for the keys so she could drive away with the children. “
Thank God for these good people.
If she put on some make up and fixed her hair, she might be not guilty.
;-)
Probable cause.
Based on looks alone, I'd say "not guilty." However, there's that old saying:
"No matter how good a girl looks, some guy, somewhere, is tired of putting up with her sh*t."
We have too much context in this case. Two small kids, schockered out of her gourd.....
Guilty. You'd be too afraid that your bed would end up full of vomit.
And that your TV, DVD player, stereo and car would be missing.
That, at least, wouldn't be an issue unless you let her bring her kids to the tryst....
[She also allegedly told deputies that she’d taken Percocet, a prescription painkiller for “when the kids are acting wild.” ]
Ain’t no Dr. in the world gonna perscribe percs for ‘unruly bratism’.
Oh come on!!! What parent doesn’t start teaching their children to drive when they’re five or six?
I agree with you and when I post I usually indicate the state in articles like this.
As soon as I hit post I realized I forgot to indicate IN and for that I apologize.
Please see my post #31....
LOL.....
Thanks.
Had you clicked on weather or traffic, instantly you would know the locale. Are you sure that you’re wideawake?
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