OZARK - An Ozark elementary teacher who allegedly left her baby in the car all day will not face charges according to the Franklin County prosecutor. In a letter to state police, David Gibbons wrote that under Arkansas law, the state must prove criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt. He felt as though 1st degree child endangerment (purposely), 2nd degree child endangerment (knowingly), or 3rd degree child endangerment (recklessly) did not apply in this case. Gibbons wrote that to prove reckless endangerment it would have to be proven that the mother was aware her child was in the car and took no action. According to him, that was not the case. He indicated that while he may consider what happened negligent, it was not criminal.
25-year-old Stephanie Sampley reportedly forgot her 16-month-old daughter Holly when she went into work at Elgin B. Milton Elementary School late last month. The baby was discovered about 3:30 that afternoon. She was transported to the local hospital and later transferred to Children's Hospital in Llittle Rock, but did not sustain serious injury. Gibbons wrote that had the child died or been injured, other portions of the Arkansas criminal code would have applied.
According to Gibbons' letter, the Department of Human Services is involved in the case and is supervising "the mother, the child, and the mother/child relationship". Therefore he feels as though "the health and well being of the child are being monitored."
25-year-old Stephanie Sampley reportedly forgot her 16-month-old daughter Holly when she went into work at Elgin B. Milton Elementary School late last month. The baby was discovered about 3:30 that afternoon. She was transported to the local hospital and later transferred to Children's Hospital in Llittle Rock, but did not sustain serious injury. Gibbons wrote that had the child died or been injured, other portions of the Arkansas criminal code would have applied.
According to Gibbons' letter, the Department of Human Services is involved in the case and is supervising "the mother, the child, and the mother/child relationship". Therefore he feels as though "the health and well being of the child are being monitored."
