A St. Louis woman who officials say made her 8-year-old son drive, with her toddler in the backseat, while she was passed out has been charged with child endangerment.
St. Louis prosecutors filed two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child against Latonya Mayes-Gale, 28, on Monday, the day of her arrest. One of the counts pertains to the boy; the other concerns her 3-year-old, who was unsecured in the back seat, allegedly because she was drunk, according to a law enforcement source and charging documents.
Mayes-Gale was taken into custody and booked into jail at the City Justice Center after an officer spotted a vehicle heading west in an eastbound lane in downtown St. Louis intersection at South 4th and Walnut street, near the Gateway Arch; police stated in an affidavit filed in support of her arrest.
“Defendant couldn’t drive the motor vehicle and instructed [the 8-year-old] to drive the motor vehicle for her so she could get comfortable in the back” the affidavit stated. “Defendant was in the rear of the motor vehicle unconscious and Victim# 2, who is three years of age, was unsecured in the backseat.”
NBC affiliate KSDK of St. Louis reported the incident took place about 4 a.m. No injuries were reported.
The complaint alleges Mayes-Gale placed the 8-year-old in danger by instructing him to drive and placed the 3-year-old in danger by allowing the toddler to ride in a vehicle driven by the 8-year-old.
Each charge is a felony which carries a minimum sentence of one year in prison if it is successfully prosecuted.
Her lawyer, Steven Kratky, said via email that Mayes-Gale is raising her two children, works as a home health aide and cares for an elderly, homebound grandparent, factors he brought up in court.
A judge released Mayes-Gale pending trial Tuesday, with a bond hearing scheduled, according to court records.
UPDATE: At a hearing this afternoon, Judge Heather Hays allowed Mayes-Gale to go free on bond, with the condition that she remain under house arrest and refrain from leaving her home, even for work. She is also prohibited from possessing guns and drugs or driving.
Mayes-Gale’s attorney at the bond hearing, Steven Kratky, mentioned that besides taking care of two children, she works as a home health aide and provides care for an elderly homebound grandparent. Kratky argued that while the state alleged substance abuse as a factor in the incident, he believed the underlying issues revolved more around mental health and stress.
Kratky described Mayes-Gale as “no danger to the community” and the events leading to her arrest as “exceedingly unusual.”
As a condition of her bond, Mayes-Gale must refrain from any contact with her children, who are currently residing with their father, the Riverfront Times reported.
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