Tot Left In Car Outside Courthouse, Mom Arrested

CLEARWATER, FL — A 28-year-old Kenneth City woman faces child neglect charges after Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies say they found her 1-year-old son alone in her car. That car happened to be parked at the Pinellas County Justice Center courthouse, officials say.

The incident that led to Antwynett A. Lane’s arrest unfolded around noon on June 30. Deputies say an employee at the 14250 49th St. N. courthouse reported that a child had been left unattended in the parking lot. When deputies went to investigate, they found the boy “sleeping inside the locked car with the windows rolled up, the engine running, and the air conditioning on,” an email from the agency said. The vehicle was locked, but had a window vent missing that was covered up with tape.

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Deputies used that window to gain entry to the car, the email noted. The boy was recovered and was found to be in good medical condition.

Shortly after deputies took the boy out of the car, they say Lane returned.

“Lane admitted to deputies she intentionally left the child in the vehicle because she was running late,” the email said. “Deputies say that Lane was visiting the courthouse to pay a ticket.”

Authorities estimate the child was left alone for about 15 minutes. Lane was booked into the Pinellas County Jail after her arrest. It is unclear what happened to the boy.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office