A man who allegedly left two youngsters home alone, including one who wandered out into the road has been charged with child abuse or neglect.
26 year old Jeffery Mark Hatfield of Adcock Cemetery Road, Smithville is charged with two counts of the offense and is under a $20,000 bond. His court date is January 26.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that a detective was patrolling Adcock Cemetery Road just before dark on Thursday, January 12 when he came upon a three year old girl standing in the center of the road. After almost hitting the child, he stopped and tended to the youngster while contacting the Department of Children Services. After searching for more than an hour, authorities finally located the child’s home. Upon arrival, they found a two year old boy who was home alone. According to Sheriff Ray, Hatfield left the children in an unsafe situation placing them in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.
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