The Miami Herald is reporting that a boy, who is 2 to 3 years old, was found early Saturday morning when Miami police received an anonymous phone call that the child was in an apartment at 642 NW Third St. with a man, who appeared to be intoxicated.
The intoxicated man told police that the child's mother allegedly had dropped off her son at the apartment and said she would come back for him. Then she left and went to party, never returning for her son, police said.
Miami police detectives and investigators from the Department of Children & Families (DCF) worked together to find the mother. They are waiting until she is able to talk to them.
It is possible that she will face felony charges of child abuse. Child abuse, by itself, is a 3rd degree felony. However, inflicting great bodily injury upon a child or by punishing a child in a malicious fashion can constitute aggravated child abuse, which may be a 2nd or 1st degree felony, depending on how it is charged.
Child abuse charges almost always lead to DCF investigations, which can result in your child being taken away from you. If you are facing prosecution for child abuse, call me.
Eric Matheny is a ccriminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward.