Bristol Woman Pleads Not Guilty

By Justin Muszynski, By The Bristol Press

September 8, 2021

A Bristol woman has pleaded not guilty to allegations of her possibly being under the influence of drugs while supervising two children.

Lindsey Bard, 35, of 757 Lake Ave., pleaded not guilty to two counts of risk of injury to a minor during a proceeding in New Britain Superior Court last week.

The 35-year-old had already pleaded not guilty to similar charges involving an incident in Southington, where police suspect she was also supervising two young children while she overdosed on drugs.

The most recent allegations stem from an incident in Bristol in which officers believe Bard was under the influence of something, possibly drugs, while caring for two children at her home on July 23, police said. Police said the children went to a neighbor’s to get help, as Bard was “incapacitated.”

The state’s Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident. Police added that the children were not injured.

Bard was charged in connection with the July incident after she was involved in a minor car accident on Aug. 9. Officers on scene realized she had a warrant out for her arrest.

At that time, she was also charged with operating under the influence, operating under suspension and failure to drive right in connection with the car accident.

Bard, who is free on multiple bonds, is due back in court on Oct. 15.

Her most recent arrest comes after she was charged by Southington police last November in connection with an incident a few months prior in a Wal-Mart. In that case, Southington police have accused her of overdosing in a public restroom while she was supervising her two children, ages 4 and 5.

It remains unclear if these two children were the same ones Bard was caring for during the Bristol incident in July.