Elyria mom disputes child endangerment charge

An Elyria mother has been accused of leaving her two children, ages 2 and 6, home alone, while she went grocery shopping.

 

Destine Michelle Calhoun-Milton is charged with one count of endangering children. According to a police report, a neighbor reported Calhoun-Milton to police on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 16.

 

Calhoun-Milton lives at the Arlington Square Apartments on David Drive.

#Elyria mom disputes child endangering charge:went to store, kids age 2/6 left at home alone https://t.co/hW1zQPpmvZ pic.twitter.com/ce4T0k3EsA

— Derick Waller WEWS (@derickwallerTV) February 19, 2016

When officers knocked on the door around 9:40 p.m. on Tuesday, they could hear a child screaming and crying on the other side. Calhoun-Milton arrived about 10 minutes later, according to the report. Officers walked into the apartment with her and observed Calhoun-Milton’s 2-year-old son in a diaper crying and screaming.

 

"After they knocked on the door for 10 minutes, of course my son is going to wake up,” Calhoun-Milton told newsnet5.com’s Derick Waller. "He heard banging on the door."

 

Calhoun-Milton’s next-door neighbor told police the children have been left alone at home multiple times before, a claim Calhoun-Milton disputes.

 

Lorain County Children’s Services is investigating, but said they have not had prior involvement with Calhoun-Milton, who still has custody of her children.

 

Calhoun-Milton told newsnet5.com she was only gone for a few minutes to go to the grocery store, located across the street.

 

Children Services spokeswoman Patti-Jo Burtnett told newsnet5.com their department is investigating the matter, but said Ohio has no law governing the appropriate age to leave a child home alone.

 

“Clearly, a 2-year-old, a 6-year-old, and an 8-year-old are not appropriate to leave home alone,” Burtnett said.

 

When it comes to older children, she said parents need to consider different factors, including their maturity level, the time of day and their responsibilities. She recommended teaching children what to do if someone knocks on the door or calls on the phone.

 

“Parents really need to realize that no matter how old their child is, even if they’re well into their teenage years, should something happen while their children are home alone, the parent is responsible and liable for whatever has happened.”