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Josefina Lopez, a 21-year-old Florida mom, has been arrested and charged after allegedly crashing her car while under the influence and leaving her child behind.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lopez was arrested and booked into custody on Thursday, July 25. Since then, she has been charged with “DUI WITH DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR PERSON,” which is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Additionally, Lopez has been charged with “ABUSE, AGGRAVATED ABUSE, AND NEGLECT OF CHILD.” Furthermore, the sheriff’s office notes that the subsequent charge is a third-degree felony.
The DUI charge reportedly carries a bond amount of $2,000, while the abuse charge carries a bond amount of $5,000. At this time, Lopez reportedly remains behind bars and has an arraignment date scheduled for August 19.
According to Fox 35 Orlando, a police affidavit alleges Lopez crashed her Jeep vehicle Thursday morning “at the intersection of Johns Lake and Hancock Roads.”
Witnesses reportedly called the police. Then, when officers arrived, they reportedly found her car “flipped on its passenger side in a ditch.” Furthermore, they noted that the mother was standing on the sidewalk while her child was allegedly still in the backseat of her car.
“You may not have a problem with alcohol out there — but if you are drinking and driving, you definitely have a problem with your decision-making,” Lui Delgado, a Certified addiction specialist, told the outlet.
According to Fox 35 Orlando, Lopez’s child was taken to a hospital and cleared from having experienced any injuries. The child has since been “placed in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.”
The 21-year-old isn’t the only parent to find themselves facing child abuse charges. Earlier this month, authorities arrived at the home of Joseph Gregory Antonsen and found the body of his 9-year-old son decomposing on a couch.
Additionally, authorities also found trash, diapers, beer cans, and rotten food in his residence. Police ultimately reported that the home had no running water and the corpse of Antonsen’s son had been left at the residence for multiple days.
