A 26-year-old Gardnerville woman was arrested Wednesday after casino security guards found a 2-month-old baby and his 3-year-old brother locked in a car with the air-conditioning and motor running.
Except for a rash and a soggy diaper on the infant, the children appeared to be healthy and unharmed, deputies said.
Melissa Marie Deines was charged with child abuse and released on $25,000 bail. She is to appear in East Fork Justice Court on Nov. 6. Deputies were called to Carson Valley Inn at 2:10 p.m. by casino personnel who found the car in the lot.
The motor was running, all the doors were locked, the windows were rolled up and the air conditioner was turned on. The children were in their car seats.
The owner of the car was traced through the license plate and deputies asked the inn to page Deines.
Deines arrived at the vehicle at 2:40 p.m. and told deputies she had a gambling problem.
"I was just going shopping at Target. I lost track of time. I heard my name on the speaker and I panicked. I wasn't gone for very long," Deines told deputies in a statement.
Deines claimed she was away from the children for only 20 minutes, but it was at least 30 minutes from the time the car was discovered.
The baby was dressed only in the diaper which was soaking. Deputies said there were no other clothes in the vehicle.
The children were released to the custody of their father and Deines was taken to Douglas County Jail.
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