Sarasota Mom Charged With Child Neglect, Using Kids as Distraction in Scam

A 27-year-old Sarasota mother is under arrest after deputies say she "constantly exposed" her two boys, ages 7 and 3, to verbal and physical abuse, left them alone in the car several times and used them as a distraction as she returned stolen items at a store in exchange for cash.

Investigators first became concerned about the alleged abuse and neglect while listening to phone calls between Jacqueline Moore and her boyfriend, who is in the Sarasota County Jail.

Charges were already pending against Moore in relation to a prescription fraud case in which deputies say she scammed an adoption agency out of money by claiming she would place her unborn child up for adoption, even though she was not pregnant.

Further investigation by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit revealed neighbors reported "constant screaming and crying and that Moore threatened to punch one of the boys in the face," according to a news release.

School officials say the older child has been late for school 34 times this year, absent more than 11 days and often goes without his medication, the sheriff's office reports.

Moore is charged with two counts each of child neglect and contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child. Additional charges are still pending, the sheriff's office said.

This is Moore’s ninth arrest on charges including petit theft, DUI and prescription fraud.

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