Des Moines, Iowa – An Iowa mother has avoided prison time after pleading guilty to felony child neglect in two separate incidents, including one in which her toddler fell from a second-story apartment window while she briefly left her children unattended.
Court Ruling in Child Neglect Case
Angelia Varner, 35, learned her legal fate this week after admitting responsibility for failing to properly supervise her children. A judge sentenced Varner to two years of probation, allowing her to avoid jail time despite the seriousness of the charges.
The case stems from an incident on August 14, when Varner left her apartment and went to the parking lot, placing her 9-year-old child in charge of two younger siblings, including a 23-month-old toddler. Varner told investigators she planned to be gone only “for a few minutes.”
During that time, neighbors witnessed the toddler fall approximately 12 feet from a second-story window, prompting emergency calls to police.
Details of the Window Fall Incident
Police reported that the toddler suffered abrasions and bruising to the head, but thankfully did not sustain life-threatening injuries. Emergency responders transported the child for medical evaluation, and the injuries were later classified as non-critical…