Judge sends woman to jail for leaving infant in hot car

AUGUSTA - A South Carolina woman will spend up to six days in jail after she pleaded guilty to leaving her infant in a van while she went shopping last month. <br> <br> A Richmond County State Court judge also sentenced Heidi Dodd, a 36-year-old mother of four from North Augusta, S.C., to 120 hours of community service and fined $750. <br> <br> She must tell others about the ``horrible mistake&#39;&#39; she made, the judge said Friday. <br> <br> Dodd pleaded guilty to contributing to the deprivation of a minor after she left her daughter, Caroline, in her van while she shopped at a craft store on June 4. <br> <br> A man parked nearby heard a baby&#39;s cries, and he and others freed Caroline by breaking a window, then moved her to a nearby grocery store to cool off. <br> <br> Dodd told the court she had left her daughter in the car because the 1-year-old had just fallen asleep and needed a nap. She left the vent and other windows open a crack and went into the store, taking three children who had been in the van. <br> <br> ``This appears to be ... a serious error in judgment that could have resulted in the death of this baby,&#39;&#39; prosecutor Sheryl Jolly said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/192501