Mom who left kids in car sentenced to 18 years probation

Sarah Jarvis | The Arizona Republic

Show Caption Hide Caption Shanesha Taylor gets 18 years probation Shanesha Taylor arrested last year for leaving her kids in her car during a job interview was sentenced to 18 years supervised probation.

PHOENIX — A job-seeking mom arrested last year after leaving her children in her vehicle while she had a job interview was sentenced Friday to 18 years supervised probation and allowed to apply for interstate travel.

Shanesha Taylor, 35, of Phoenix previously had pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse in an effort to resolve a case that garnered national attention, in part because of her tearful mugshot.

She left her sons, ages 2 years and 6 months at the time, in a sport utility vehicle while she interviewed for a job at a State Farm Insurance in Scottsdale, Ariz. In addition to her sentence, she will have to complete parenting classes and a treatment program for domestic-violence offenders.

The sentence comes two days after a frantic father called 911 in Quincy, Mass., 30 minutes after he realized that he had boarded a train for Boston and left his baby daughter in the back seat of his car parked at the station, according to The Boston Globe. Police found the child, who was fine because temperatures were mild, and the man was not charged.

On Tuesday, a 16-month-old girl died in Lake City, Fla., after her father forgot to take her to day care, discovering the child around 3 p.m. ET. The names of the man and his child have not been released; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.

It is the second child death from heatstroke so far this year, according to the advocacy organization KidsAndCars.org.

The first was April 20 in Phoenix when Alpha Koryor, 2½, was left in his father's sedan for several hours. James Koryor was accused of drinking and was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and child endangerment.

Taylor missed two deadlines to contribute money to her children's trust fund as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, so the Maricopa County Attorney's Office reinstated its initial prosecution in October. Taylor, who claimed she was homeless and jobless, said she did not want to pay because the agreement would restrict her children from the money unless they go to college.

Taylor's claims sparked a range of reactions from the community, including a crowdfunding effort that raised her more than $100,000 and prompted prosecutors to raise the amount she was required to contribute to the fund.

Taylor was arrested on March 20, 2014, after someone heard crying coming from an SUV parked in an office complex and alerted police. According to reports, Taylor told police she left them there because she could not find day care.

Her defense team has said she wants to move to Chicago, where she expects to have financial support. Taylor declined to comment during and after the sentencing.

The state was concerned about Taylor's sense of responsibility. Prosecutor Faith Klepper said said Taylor lied during the trial, claiming to have been living in a car when she was really living with family.

Klepper argued that Taylor was offered jobs as she was trying to get employed, but that those opportunities were wasted when she refused them.

But Taylor's defense lawyer, Valeria Llewellyn, said Taylor did not turn down jobs.

"Efforts were made and interviews were attended," Llewellyn said. "Cameras and microphones are thrust in her face. ... She felt compelled to defend herself."

Taylor's status as a military veteran left her with a mentality that makes it "hard to admit that things aren't working out," her lawyer said.

Superior Court Commissioner Jeffrey Rueter said he considered Taylor's decision to leave her children in the car an act influenced by economic desperation.

Taylor complied with the terms the Arizona Department of Child Safety laid out, Reuter said. But she ultimately used "criminally poor judgment."

Contributing: Garrett Mitchell, The Arizona Republic; and WTLV- and WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, Fla.